11055/School's Out For--well, the day.

School's Out For--well, the day.
Date of Scene:	12 February 2020
Location:	Salem Center, Westchester County
Synopsis:	Snowball Fight! And who was the vertically challenged doppleganger?
Cast of Characters:	Colossus, Deadzone, Psylocke, Gambit, Honey Badger, Wild Rose

---

Colossus has posed:
    Winter has returned with all of its huff and puff. Over the course of last night snow has fallen and cast a lovely shade of white upon the town square. There are small banks of snow along the sidewalks, and against the small walls that block off parts of the stores from each other. There's even a lovely snow pile around the base of the water fountain that has become a point of focus for the local children where they've gathered a snowballs and are busily rushing around throwing at each other and the occasional adult.
    With the traffic closed off it makes for a much more friendly atmosphere for pedestrians. With people walking hither and yon, moving to the stores and their artisanal fare. And one of those people... just so happened to be the tall Russian known as Piotr Rasputin.
    Sketchpad in hand and with it settled on his lap, he's so close to that water fountain and is casually brushing some charcoal across the paper. Leaning at times over the edge to espy what he can. For whatever reason the kids there don't think it's a wise idea to pelt the tall artist with snowballs. Probably wise.

Deadzone has posed:
    Tatum was so happy to get her clothes back and thanks her lucky stars that Hank hadn't gotten rid of any of it. Okay, it was all in storage, but it was all there. And so, Tatum is once again looking like the amazing goth that she is, if perhaps a little out of date since all the clothes are at least 3 years old. Black skinny jeans with leather boots that go up to her knee and are festooned with buckles, several layers of shirts with differing sleeve lengths, and her winter coat, gloves, scarf and hat. Black, black and ... Oh look! More black!

    Her makeup is still rather plain, since wearing 3 year old makeup really isn't smart. She walks out of one of the shops with several bags over an arm. Her makeup game will be back on point after today. Thank heavens. She stops to watch the kids playing and smiles. It's a sight she hasn't gotten to enjoy in a long time. She spots Piotr and ponders. To say hello or not. THat is the question.

Psylocke has posed:
Being after class hours, Betsy had a bit of shopping to do. She had taken one of the cars used for the school and headed into town. The vehicle had been left at the far end of the street so she could enjoy a leisurely stroll through the shops. Honestly? She wasn't after something specific. Just after a day of teaching martial arts to teens, she needed some semblence of quiet.

Only to get pelted by a snowball and a peal of laughter before the children ran off in search of another target. She wiped snow off the shoulder of her black jacket with the faux fur trim in gray. It was belted tightly and fell to about mid thigh. Jeans were worn and tucked into a pair of knee high boots more in a riding style. She flicked a few of the wet bits out of her hair then continued toward the shop Tatum was just exiting.

Gambit has posed:
Remy LeBeau had much the saame idea as Betsy. A little shopping to do, maynbe pick up something for Valentines Day dinner with a certain lady. He hears the laughter and looks over to see the kids running from Betsy right after hitting the woman with a snowball. He considers then shrugs, scooping up a handful of snow, packing it quickly and sending it zinging after one of the retreating children. /giving it just enough of a charge to keep it together through the distance.

Colossus has posed:
    The tall Russian seated there at the fountain looks up at the abrupt 'splut' of a snowball's impact. She likely can sense the flicker of thought through his mind, mental laughter he doesn't voice as he instead raises his voice to the children and says, "Ah, little ones. She is not a target that I would choose. For she is known at the school as what some would say is..."
    He pauses, lifting his eyes to the sky as if he were seeking the right word. In his thoughts the words, 'Bad Ass' are there, but he self-censors and instead tells them. "Super Tough. Even I am scared of her."
    At that he nods having delivered his cautionary warning.
    OF course that's the moment when Remy's snowball /SPLUTS!/ with a snap of energy right into the back of one of the kids' head. A kid who has wild eyes and abruptly gets a facial expression that lets the Cajun mutant know... IT IS ON.
    Snowballs start flying.

Deadzone has posed:
Seeing the kids that through the snowball at Betsy, Tatum shakes her head. If they knew what she knew, they'd never have been so bold. She pauses by the door, watching as the woman approaches and simply nods her head in greeting.

Ah yes, Tatum. The rumor mill at the school has been just abuzz after her return. The home ec teacher had finally returned after being gone for three years, having left without a trace on her wedding day to Hank McCoy. The pair don't seem at odds, but they certainly haven't gotten back together, so there are so many speculations amongs the drama loving teens as to make a soap opera writer's head spin.

Should the psychic try to get into Tate's head, it is much as it was three years ago. Her nullificiation field makes it seem like she's not even there. Just empty space. The body is there, but there is no mind to go with it, which for a psychic might be a little unnerving.

Remy throws a snowball at the kids and then the fight is on. "Ah hell," she mutters. "Not gonna be safe out here in a bit. Going to turn into a students vs teachers fight in any mo-SPLUT!" Her words are interupted by a snowball to the side of her had. "Moment now," she grumbles the last words.

Psylocke has posed:
Hearing the rumbled comments from Piotr to the children, Betsy does smile faintly. She does her best not to try and read the minds of those around her. Her walls are up, things kept at bay though as always there are those little whispers that seem to echo from the other side of that mental barrier. Calling, beckoning for her to just listen and hear them. She knows it is thoughts though and that is an invasion of privacy thus she has to suffer the whispers and not open those doors.

When Remy gets involved, she shakes her head again. "That was not...oh dear." She doesn't need telepathy to know what that look means.

One moment she was there, the next she had a large mailbox belonging to the postal service for drop-offs between herself and the attackers. She hunkered down as the battle raged, glancing over to Tatum as she got a face full of snow. "Care to join me? I think there's enough room here."

Gambit has posed:
Remy LeBeau rolls his neck and grins a bit as Tatum also gets pelted, "Now see, 'ere Ah am trying ta defend a lady's honor, an' yah go an' assult /anot'er/ lady." He says amused as he scoops up another handful and sends it launching after the kids. It's worth noting that the one he hits isn't the one that launched the snowball that hit either Psylock or Tatum... so he's not /that/ concerned about their honor.

Colossus has posed:
    It was as if the children had been waiting the whole time for the trigger event. Their armory of snowballs finally now to be put to use and with a suitable target being that guy who splatted Tommy. So now It Is On. And as the snowballs start to fly... they Bring It. Two of the kids are hunkered down behind a small snow fort on the closer side of the fountain, each taking turns rising up and throwing while the other ducks down and reloads.
    Behind a Prius three kids are just hurling handfuls of hastily thrown together slush and giggling their fool heads off even as they continue to toss what they can in the way of... that guy (Remy.)
    "Children, calm down now. This is a bad..."
    /SPLUT!/ Snow splatters all over Piotr's face and onto his sketchpad that he very slowly. Slowly puts down and to the side. "You dare." He says quietly.
    "You would dare unleash the bear!" He starts to grab a handful of snow as he tells the children in wild eyed thickly accented vengeful tones, "For you, snow is but play thing. But for me! I was born into snow!" Says the tall Russian even as he can't help but break into a laugh as he gathers up a grapefruit sized snowball and sends it hurled after one of the children!

Deadzone has posed:
After spitting out the snow that got into her mouth, she starts making her way to the mailbox that Betsy offers and then thinks better of it. Tatum knows the limitations of her abilities and she wouldn't be able to keep the psychic out of her field if they were that close. Never wanting to force her ability on others, she finds a Tesla to hide behind.

Looking over to Betsy as the two hide behind their chosen shields, she can't help but smirk. "Soooo. How was your day?" she asks, as if the two weren't hunkered down behind big hunks of metal to keep from being pelted.

Looking over her protection, Tatum snickers at the sight of Piotr and Remy, joining in the fun. "They're just big kids themselves given half the chance."

Honey Badger has posed:
The door to the nearby burger joint opens up just about this time when the snowballs begin to fly on all fronts, and Gabby steps out unawares of what she was walking into. The girl who was the spitting image of Laura Kinney has her focus more on the burger held in hand from which a single bite was already taken, and being washed down with a gulp off her soda. She'd just barely made it to the sidewalk when one of the snowballs happens to cross her path.

More than cross her path--It smacks right into the side of her face knocking the straw straight out of her mouth and taking off the lid of her soda with it. The contents slosh out over her hand which automatically tightens around the paper cup unfortunately turning the slosh into more of a geyser in the process.

Standing there with snow crumbling down the side of her face to sneak into the collar of her shirt she just... gapes. Unsure of what to do, or say, or how to react for a moment. Really, should anyone mistake her for Laura, they might worry.

Too bad no one knew Gabby yet, either.

Gambit has posed:
Remy LeBeau can side step bullets. Snowballs really don't stand much of a chance. He scoops up another handful of snow and launches it over the snow fort towards where his quarry thinks they are protected. Then another with significantly more charge aimed at their snow wall... trying to open a breach for Colosses Cannon ball sized artilery. A huge grin on the Cajun's face.

Psylocke has posed:
"Oh, it was fine. You know, the usual," Betsy replies with a bit of a laugh as she shakes her head a bit at the goings on. As Piotr and Remy are gone into the fray, she has to laugh all the more.

"I think you might be right. Just more kids. Perhaps a tad bit taller in at least one of the cases."

Colossus has posed:
    It was mayhem, madness. Though not really, it was a bunch of children running around screaming pretending to be scared as Remy and Piotr threw the occasional snowball. The tall Russian stomps around almost as if he were the Frankenstein monster, his boots leaving large footprints in the snow as he rarrrred and pursued some of the other children, getting snowballs thrown his way.
    It wasn't until he got a triple shot to his shoulder, chest, and face yet again that he holds his hands up. "I yield, children, I yield. Spare me... take it out on Remy. I heard him say the most horrible things about your mothers, da?"
    And at that the children round upon the Cajun, grim of visage and stern of manner.
    The snowballs fly.

Deadzone has posed:
Seeing Remy aiming for the fort causes Tatum to frown. She shakes her heand and puts her bags down, starting to gather up some snow. "You'll excuse me one moment, won't you, Betsy? Someone is cheating." She takes her snowball and starts sneaking her way to Remy, gesturing to the kids to keep the Cajun distracted. When she's close enough, she pulls back at Remy's collar and dumps the snow straight down his back. "No using explosive charges in a snowball fight!" she tells him. Only... suddenly the pair are surrounded by kids and even though she was just snowballing Remy herself, that doesn't stop her from being a fair target. She screams with laughter, holding onto the back of Remy's coat to try and use him as a shield as the pair are pelted. "I regret nothing!!"

Honey Badger has posed:
"Oh come ON!" Gabby utters with a near whine of annoyance as she tosses the rest of her drink over her shoulder. The burger is tucked into her mouth to free up her hands and she stoops to make a wide, sweeping scoop of snow and soda-slush in between her hands. It's patted quickly into a handful for each hand, and she rises throwing one either direction. She wasn't picky and it was her first snow fight so she wasn't sure whose side to be on. OR who these people even *where* to begin with... but passing up the opportunity seemed like a shame.

Gambit has posed:
"Treason!" The Cajun shouts at the top of his lungs at the Russian, grinning ear to ear... and completely missing Tatum sneaking up behind him. He lets out a loud yelp as she dumps snow down his back and dances furiously to try to get it out. Her proximity also seems to take away whatever it is that was letting him dodge so effectively, and he is pelted by the kids as well... And then by Gabby... It's a massacre!

Colossus has posed:
    A laugh is ripped from the Russian even as he withdraws, retreating and tucking his head down as some of the kids start to hurl snowballs after him. One after the other after the other. He only has time to rush and scoop up his sketchpad, then breaks into a run across the empty street.
    There's a /skiiid/ across the snow as he ends up behind that post office box, but he's entirely too big for it and behind the two young women there. He greets them, however. "Ladies."
    A beat as he peaks out around the corner and says, "Please, do be so kind as to intercept what snowballs may be coming my way, yes?" And with that he ducks back.

Wild Rose has posed:
     It could have been any time, any place. It was winter, with a thick layer of snow on the ground in some places. Boots crunch in the white stuff, accented by the tap-tap-tap of a staff dulled by the covering of snow. A figure in a thick black parka, jeans, black snow boots, and fiery red hair makes her way from a little hole-in-the-wall crafts shop....

     ...and right into the middle of a massacre. The snow starts flying, and her staff starts spinning, a few stray snowballs going /splat-splat-splat/ as they are deflected by the twirling, whirling wood.

     But what's more, there were two familiar figures there. One wearing a long duster coat, and one rather tall, burly Russian. "Mo Dhia, did I just walk into a civil war or something?"

Deadzone has posed:
Tatum holds tightly onto Remy as she and he are peppered with snowballs. Okay, mostly he, but she gets more than a few. She tries to turn him this way and that to protect herself. All's fair in love and war and snowball fights. Except using powers to win over kids, apparently in the Tatum rule book.

A bit of snow goes down her back now, perhaps karma for stuffing some down Remy's shirt and she lets out a scream and starts her own stiff backed dance.

Gambit has posed:
Remy LeBeau is still bouncing dancing and trying to get the snow out of his shirt... "Oh now yah gone an' done it chere.." he says backing off far enough from Tatum that his now hazel eyes revert to their natural hellfire on ebony. He scoops up another load of snow and packs it into a packed ball, diliberately making eyecontact with the musician... "Five,,, fouh,,, t'ree..."

Colossus has posed:
    Colossus straightens up and looks over toward Tatum, eyebrows quirking as he waves, "Ah Tatum." He sits up and nods toward Psylocke. "Perhaps I bit off more than we can chew, da?" The Russian grins and then sees poor Gabby suddenly about to become the target of the next flurry of snowballs. She's so small, perhaps it keys the children into thinking she is one of them, and yet on the side of the adults?
    Yet more treason!
    But then one of the children behind the Prius takes a bead at her and Colossus sees this, sees the perfidy, and darts from cover. "Look out, child!" And suddenly the Russian leaps in the path of the snowy flurry, clearly saving Gabby's life as he's splutted.

Deadzone has posed:
Seeing the Cajun holding a ball and is pretty sure he's gonna charge it too, Tatum turns tail and runs into the closest shop. Pretzels with artisanial mustards. Ooooooh. She sticks her tongue out at Remy from the safety of inside her bunker.

Honey Badger has posed:
Gabby had been distracted from the fracas due to having just wandered into it herself. The first volley of retribution from her had been rather poorly aimed. Now she had risen from her crouch, burger still tucked between her lips, and she was about to take stock of the situation itself. Or at least that was her intention.

When Colossus runs over to save her from the next attack she hadn't yet noticed she can only blink owlishly up at the much taller Russian. Without seeming overly bothered she reaches up to take hold of the burger gagging her mouth and she chews and gulps down the mouthful she'd taken. The rest is folded back up in the paper wrapper to be tucked into the pocket of her jacket. "Thanks! Though I don't think snow is gonna kill me."

Wild Rose has posed:
     With one flurry of snowballs meeting an ingnomious end, Riana stops to size up the fray. Only two seemed even remotely familiar, the rest were strangers. And it looked as if Piotr was doing well enough on his own. That left a certain Cajun in need of help.

     Or a good snowballing.

     With an evil little grin curling her lips upwards, she stoops down, scoops up a handful of snow, and takes aim at Remy. "Oh cher," she sings out, just an instant before letting her icy missile fly right at him.

     Game on.

Gambit has posed:
Remy LeBeau was just about to launch his retalitory strike at Tatum when Riana calls to him. He blinks a bit and is taken off gaurd just long enougfh to get poped right between the eyes with a snowball... with his powers on no less. He'll never let himself live /that one down... "Oh now yah done it mon cher." He declares sending the ball of snow he was already holding back at her,

Colossus has posed:
    Turning toward Gabby, Piotr wipes off the snow from his pea coat and says simply, "Is better be safe than sorry." And with that he rises up to his full height, still dusting off the snow. "But be careful, I fear there is more antics to be seen." With that said he gives her a smile though for a moment. A brief moment... he sort of tilts his head slightly. As if Gabby looked familiar. But then he shakes his head as if it were nothing.
    Toward the others he calls out, "I am calling this is safe zone. This is home base. You come here and is safe!" And clearly, the tall Russian speaks on some level the children can understand. Because all of a sudden, it is as if the doorway near Gabby was holy ground.

Wild Rose has posed:
     Uh-oh. Riana knew that look, and knew well Remy's aim was true. Her only prayer was to twirl her staff just in time to catch the snowball and deflect it, holding it straight up in front of her face. While she catches a bit of snowy shrapnel, some clinging to her brows and lashes, the icy sphere goes /splat/. "And what is it I've done, cher? Hmm?"

     For a moment, it looks as if she might scoop up a handful of snow and take aim at Piotr, but his declaration of 'home base' was one that was sacred in the lexicon of anybody who had ever taken part in this most hallowed of childhood winter sports. Damn. Now what?

Honey Badger has posed:
Gabby tips her head back to grin up at Colossus. It was really necessary given the height difference. There was a lot to be familiar about her, really. That dark hair, those green eyes... The fact that she was a clone of Laura. The only differences were the few scars on her face. "Thanks again," she offers with far too much cheer, before glancing off to the kids on one side, and the adults on the other. Home base, huh?

Swaying her weight from one foot to the other she decides that the moment of safety was perhaps enough to make her realize she ought to take this opportunity to edge away. "I'll just be going now. Have fun!" Scoot scoot thataway.

Colossus has posed:
    For an instant Piotr turns back around to look at Gabby. Now with their newly bought safety at 'home base' he has some time to consider the youth and says, "Child, you look exceptionally familiar. Wait please," He gestures over to some of the others, "Time out, please?" That said he tries to get some measure of cessation to the hostilities. He'll wave over any of the X-ers so inclined and ten turns to motion to Gabby.
    "Does this person not remind you of someone?" That said he turns to look after where... she was just a moment ago.