1648/Gotta Make Way For The Homo Superior

Gotta Make Way For The Homo Superior
Date of Scene:	25 July 2017
Location:	Manhattan
Synopsis:	Yana is saved from some Friends of Humanity by Dani and Magneto. Discourse ensues about mutants.
Cast of Characters:	Black Rose, Moonstar, Magneto, Starr

---

Black Rose has posed:
    Yana had a mission - to get a message to the Morlocks. And, well, while she didn't -personally- have contacts with the Morlocks, she knew a few people who claimed they could get ahold of them. And, who she could tell were being honest about it. The message had been left with them, down where they hung out in the various alleys of Lower Manhattan. The blue-haired punk-rock girl was listening to her favorite ear candy via streaming services from her LexPhone, tucked into her back pocket as she walks down the alley, alone. At least, no escort with her.
    By all appearances, unbeknownst to her, a group of guys, about six of them, have spotted her. One of them had nudged his friends, telling them, "Hey. I recognize her. She's a mutie. Or mutie-lover. She was coming out of that club. The one they told us about. Where the muties were hanging, now," he'd told them.
    The larger, angrier looking guy hadn't even bothered to pause. Nope. He'd grabbed his baseball bat, and told the rest of his friends, "C'mon. These are our streets." And as two of the boys showed some hesitation, an evil eye and a warning look from the meaner older teen got them in line, real quick.
    The group begins to move, a little faster than Yana is walking. They are not running to catch up to her, but their swift strides are closing the gap, fast.
    Yana pauses, pulling her phone out to either switch songs on her LexPhone, or to respond to a text message, in the meantime.

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani wasn't planning to come down to Midtown, but she had to run a few errands. She doesn't particularly like New York, but hey, what can't you find in the Big Apple? In this case, she's got a pair of shopping bags in her hand, talking on her cellphone, "Hey Doug, yeah, it's Dani, just wanted to let you know I should make it back a bit late tonight, but we're just making charact... er, actually call you back."
    Because she sees Yana walking along, and more importantly, she sees the half-dozen mooks trailing her, and starting to catch up. Her expression hardens, as she moves over to intercept Yana. And probably do some intimidation.

Magneto has posed:
It's a somwhat similar, if entirely different exchange of information that brings the Master of Magnetism into Manhattan. He violates airspace where he's likely still a highly wanted fugitive with impunity and aplomb, coming into the city in the upper atmosphere well out of reach of and shielded from most of humanity's various sensor technologies, and then descends almost vertically to his destination, far too fast to properly track, even if he did blip something, somewhere.

It's a synchronicity that serves the young mutants facing down the angry gang-- though let's be fair, Dani and Yana can probably handle such ruffians-- and works decidedly -against- said hateful toughs.

Magnus steps from the last alleyway between the pair of women and the would-be assailants and casually extends his hand, the bat all but snapping to his grasp, likely painfully if it's held too tightly. "Racial slurs.." the Master of Magnetism laments with a slow shake of his head, leveling a steely gaze on the group. "Why does it always come to that? Makes me sad for my children."

Black Rose has posed:
    "Check your lips at the door, woman," sings Yana, "Shake your hips like battleships," banging her head to whatever music is playing in her ears. But then someone is -- floating down. Sure, it's behind her. And sure, she can't actually see it. And sure, she was looking at her phone while Magneto was descending down. She pulls the earbuds out, and turns around to consider one of the most dangerous men on the planet. Oh, she certainly knows who Magento is. And she hadn't heard any of the racial slurs.
    Looking up, she'd also caught sight of Dani, and the urgency on the other girls face. A familiar face, at least. Figuring that Dani is on her way towards her, she takes a few steps towards Magneto, clearly not afraid of him in the least. It's not like she's done anything for, or against him.

    The loss of the bat gives the lead boy pause. "Get out of the way, old man. Or you're next," he says, trying to sound brave. He points an accusing hand, "You, and all your mutie friends need to get the hell out of -our- city."

    "Your city?" Yana crosses her arms, "You -do- realize what's going on, right? In a couple hundred years, Homo Sapien will be extinct. Everyone will be a mutant." She seems to smile, "Natural progression of evolution. It's pretty much unavoidable. Sorry."
    "Shutup," sneers one of the other boys, who whips a rock at Yana. Against all probability, that rock drops dead. Literally. One moment it's sailing in the air, the next, it's as it had it an invisible wall, lost all inertia, and simply fell to the ground with a faint sound to the ground.
    Yana looks back to Dani, "Hey." She smiles at the girl, then looks back to the boys.

    "Nothing," says the seething older boy, the leader, pointing accusingly at the girls, and Magento, "You're all -freaks-. Sick. Dangerous. -Freaks-."

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani steps up next to Yana, and frowns, "Yeah, like this land belongs to you in the first place, white /boy/." Normally she doesn't play that card, but she narrows her eyes, looking at him and the other boys, "This is a kindness I'm giving you. Run!"
    And as Dani's eyes glint, a cold darkness settling around her as she seems to look far less kind... or possibly even human, as there's an eternal glint in her eyes that just feels like Death. And then the boys see them. Mutants. Feral mutants. Everywhere. Snarling. Growling. Their jaws snapping with a wicked snickersnack. Then they laugh high-pitched, like hyenas, chanting slowly, "Flatscans... FLATSCANS... time to plaaaaaayyyyyy!!!"

Magneto has posed:
There's a slight, wry smirk, without warmth, that crosses Magneto's face as he's addressed as 'old man'. Maybe it's the white hair, maybe it's the tough's relative youth that leads him to yell at the statuesque mutant in such a manner. Magnus doesn't bother with objection, however-- the young man is righter than he knows.

"Indeed we are dangerous. I suspect any one of the three of us gathered here could deal with the 'comeuppance' you are so eager to deliver. You gamble your lives on a stormy precipice and are oblivious to the thunder." Yana demonstrates his hypothesis by disarming the further assault, and Magneto's frown deepens.

"The young lady is correct. You rage against evolution, the innate destiny of life. If I wanted it, the lot of you, everyone on this block, would already be deceased, but I do invite you to come through me -first- raather than -next- if y--" Astral projections aren't quite as impossible to miss as some other energy manifestations, but. Danielle is proving his point herself, as well, isn't she? Magnus casts a nonplussed look back over his shoulder.

Black Rose has posed:
    It doesn't take much. A few of them were already scared at Magneto's appearance. One or two others had started to show more hesitation when Dani joined and it was certainly no longer six on one. She can't see the projections, certainly, but the boys sure can.

    "Run!" Shouts one of the boys, utter terror on his face, and he turns and books it down the alley, running as fast as he can. The others move in quick persuit, less they be left behind and caught by the hoarde. Despite Magneto's reputation, the feral mutants are what they fear more, the manifestation of terror in the form of a mutant rather than the power behind them. Their screams light up the alleyway, as well as yells of, "I TOLD YOU SO!" and, "KEEP RUNNING! I THINK THEY'RE CATCHING US!" until they fade away.

    Yana fold her arms in front of her, and watches all of this, looking between Magneto, and Dani both. "Well," she says casually, "That wasn't half as interesting as it could've been. But, thanks for the assist." She gives Magneto and Dani each a friendly smile.

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani's expression lightens, the shadows of Death no longer there as she smiles back to Yana, "Yeah, well, you hadn't noticed them, and I've seen that kind of boy." She hmphs a bit, "Stupid boys looking to beat down what's different. Native or mutant doesn't matter to them. They might get a chance to grow out of it." She sounds... not quite certain of that, but the fact that she thinks that's preferable to Magneto's alternative is unspoken. Though probably pretty clear.

Magneto has posed:
Magneto is conflicted a moment as he watches them flee. On the one hand, he has his misgivings about the means of this truce, and the final sum of that equation. On the other? Murdering six young men under the circumstances hardly seems less likely to escalate the situation. Truth be told, there's a path somewhere in between there that Erik might have preferred. "You think so?" He inquires of Dani, clearly even less convinced of that possibility than she.

"Has terror often righted the judgement of makind, in your experience?" The inquiry is dry, rhetorical, and pointed. "Enough fear and disdain in that lot that they would have beaten a girl with rocks and a bat for possibly being a mutant. Now, they have more." Ever the high wire act to judge fighting when one must fight, and how indeed to sway hearts and minds already so tainted by toxic belief.

Black Rose has posed:
    "The only thing that rights the judgement of mankind," says Yana, vaugely, to Magneto, "Is about a centuries worth of time, and the necessity forced on them to change." She picks up the rock that was thrown at her, turning it over in her fingers, thoughtfully, to look at it. "Take slavery. It took humanity over two millenia to get that out of their system, and it's still around. The hatred of mutants won't be any different, really." Though, she's speaking more on general principle, and without any real passion on one side of the fence, or the other. She tosses the rock into the nearest dumpster with a clean, well-placed throw.
    "Don't think we've met," she offers Magneto. "I'm Yana Asarov. Pleased to meet you." She offers her hand.

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani looks over at Magneto, "Well, I know for a fact that beating the hell out of them, while maybe more satisfying, wouldn't change their minds for the better either." She pauses, then adds, almost grudgingly, "Sir."

    She then sighs a bit, looking over at Yana, "Yeah, humanity doesn't really need many excuses to hate whatever's different. It's just something you have to try and break through where you can." She doesn't introduce Magneto to Yana, since well... Yana's already approached Magneto about it.

Starr has posed:
    Despite being in an alley, the small group does bring a bit of attention to certain people. While some pass it off and simply wish to be on their way.....one actually walks down the alleyway....with a slice of pizza in her hand....and a soda. Her arrival is....told to the others by a somewhat loud belch. "Mmm...so good to cheat on your diet every once in a while. I don't suppose you all know of a quick way to the planet fitness gym, do you?" Of course, she hasn't heard the conversation...

Magneto has posed:
"Erik Magnus Lensherr. Magneto, Miss Asarova." Magnus' handshake is firm and even, as is the gaze he fixes on the younger mutant. "Slavery is perhaps a poor example of mankind's capacity to learn." Magneto observes rather dourly. "Considering their are more humans enslaved now than the total transported along the Middle Passage. Considering one of the most popular solutions to -us- seems to be to find a method of tracking and control, if not outright forced labor."

Beat. "It -is- perhaps a good example of the cyclical nature of these struggles, however, and mankind's current belief that paying lipservice to righteousness is as good as fighting for it." Magneto 'likes' that comment on Facebook, his job today is done. Not a racist.

A nod of agreement, perhaps surprising, is passed Danielle's way. "You are correct. It is difficult to say what could get the point across, if anything at this juncture. There is only the weight of choice and consequence. Your assumption of my first choice may have left us with greater consequence-- but it is perhaps just as likely they would have attacked me anway." Resulting in, at best, a similar outcome. There's no ire towards either of the other mutants for their choices. But neither does Magnus seem inclined to sugar coat the reality.

"The history of mankind is the history of hate and fear for every imagined difference and possible division. Healing that perception when our own difference is so tangible..." Well, if it weren't an uphill battle, he and Charles would be long retired. The interloper draws his eye as she approaches and... asks for directions. "Google." the elder mutant helpfully deadpans.

Black Rose has posed:
    Yana nods, "Can't lie. I know who you are," she confides to Magneto. And, with various reports, rumors about him - especially in the mutant community, it'd really be hard not to. But despite all that, she still doesn't seem afraid, or even hesitant at meeting the Very Dangerous Man <tm>. She pulls her hand back after a moment an recrosses her arms, her weight gets shifted to her back foot, and there's attention given to her 'elder' in this case, as he verbalizes his thoughts and experiences so eloquently.
    "Nothing will get the point across, as long as there are men like Senator Creed influencing fear and hate under the illusion of protetion and safety against the background of patriotism and goodwill.
    Her gaze flicks over to the newcomer, shaking her head, then she lets out just a little laugh at Magneto's reply. "That works," she agrees. "Sorry." The blue haired girl in the punk outfit does not, though, seem the 'fitness' type. Let's be honest.
    "Oh, Dani. Tell your friend I passed her message along. Be a day or two before we hear anything."

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani nods, looking a bit relieved at Yana's words, as she looks at the new arrival, "Huh, oh, I think if you go down two blocks that way." She points away from where the ruffians fled, then continues, "And then hook right you should get there pretty easy I think. Well lit streets, and all that."

    And then she sighs a little as she considers Magneto's words, "Yeah, well, stupid kids don't deserve... well, you know." She cuts herself off, if only because the stranger might react a bit badly to the discussion about some street toughs getting possibly murdered.

Starr has posed:
    "I'm not worried about well lit streets." Elycia says finishing her pizza, and actually tosses the pizza box over her shoulder. Somehow, the pizza box takes a rather impossible flight towards a waste bin. "Ah, that's better." She then looks to Yana. "Sadly, that's the way most politicians are. They find a hot button topic and they use fear to scare you into voting for them. Yeah, believe it or not...that's how they get votes."

She then snerks at Magnus. "Ha. That's funny, Google....cuz you can access it everywhere. Ha. Funny." Said in just about the same deadpan tone as Magneto. "Creed has a problem though. What's the difference between a mutant and a human with a gun and martial arts background? None. Only the human can have the gun taken away. But why call them mutants? They're humans too." She says as she finishes her soda and walks to the waste bin. "You'd be suprised on how much you can hear in an alleyway."

Magneto has posed:
"Thankfully one need not influence evolution in the minds or matter of the entirety of humanity, merely enough of a plurality that the forward mometum of our people and our cause is utterly inexorable, part and parcel to the very turning of the world and function of each State." Which, admittedly, is still a steep hill to climb-- with its own foreboding implications.

"You have heard of me." Magneto gently corrects Yana. "How much you -know- of me depends on what you have heard and from whom, and such portraits are never as thorough as their painters may believe." Dani's words draw a soft chuckle. "If I felt otherwise, Danielle-- terrifying them to flight would not have forestalled such a fate." There's a sympathy to the words, as it hearkens back to what he was just saying. This mutant is too young to have seen much of his days founding Xavier's, and what she knows... is largely what she's been told.

"Knowing who deserves that sanction and when is a puzzle that, if a perfect science, would have produced utopia by now. I am not a monster, and believe it or not, many of my actions are -carefully- considered." With the display of power and awareness, Magnus seems scarcely concerned with the presence of Elycia. Though she does have them at a disadvantage, "Then you know who -we- are..." he prompts gently, easily acquiescing the other point. His dismissal was, after all, simply rude. He doesn't deny it.

Black Rose has posed:
    Curoiusity, as the blue-haired punk-rock girl watches the Pizza Box defy conventional physics. She tips her head to the new arrival, an unasked question on her voice. But then, Magento is talking to her and he has her attention. She is certainly mindful of her elders, isn't she? Or, perhaps - to 'folk-heroes', or Very Dangerous Men <tm>.
    Yana only smiles, mischeviously at Magneto. It's a lopsided, dangerous, almost suggestive sort of smile though there's no hint of flirtation behind it. But if she knows something, or has something to share, perhaps the crowd is the cat holding her tongue.
    Instead, she tells Elycia frankly, "There's a big difference between a mutant and a human with a gun, and a martial arts background. Namely, a mutant can do all three at the same time, if they wanted."
    She nods towards Dani, "Most kids don't deserve what they get. But, a few have to earn what they get. So, some parents are still doing it right."

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani glances curiously at the new arrival, then smiles a touch as she watches the pizza box sail in defiance of basic aerodynamics or gravity, "I suppose you wouldn't have to worry about that, no. Just ducking through the alleys straight away for three blocks, and you should be right there."

    Dani then looks over at Yana, "Yeah, some mutants can. Not everyone can do that sort of thing, though. A lot can't, and they're the ones that are gonna get hurt. Because picking on the weaker is a common pasttime for humanity anyway." Hey, wait, which side /is/ she on?

Starr has posed:
    "Yes I do actually, Magnus. And....I don't care that you're mutants. Because.....you're in the same boat as I am. The Mutants of this time are the 'witches' of yesteryear." Elycia says as she walks back from the waste bin. "Sadly, people are going to fear what is different and wiping out other because they are different solves nothing. And doing a 'what if' scenario for preventative measures......such as Senator Creed....is paranoia." She then smirks. "I'm Elycia by the way."

Magneto has posed:
A singular, graceful nod concedes Elycia's point, and expresses some polite appreciation for the introduction. "Indeed, today more than ever we must focus on the causes that unite us, rather than the lines that divide us. Only in such a way can we move beyond the patterns of the past."

A small smile creeps onto his face as he appends on the end of Dani's point. "Some mutations give little leg up in combat, but could change the world in other ways. In Genosha there is a mutate who can speed the growth of vegetation within a wide radius. Another who can not only detect and lure the finest fare of the sea, but tell precisely the impact our fishing has on the sustainability of their population. A small, sickly child just coming into his powers with the ability to detect and intuit diagnosis of disease in others through a passing touch. All far -less- dangerous than Homo Sapiens and their myriad tools of war."

Magneto could go on, but his point is clear, and made clearer with matter-of-fact words, "Yet they are just as vulnerable to this plague of hatred and violence. Moreso. Fairer, perhaps, is to suggest mutation gives many of us a leg up on becoming dangerous, should we have the motivation. Nonetheless, even per capita we can scarcely compete with the inhumanity man visits upon his fellows." Again and again in this conversation, despite Dani's fear of his own means and motives, the two mutants back up one another's stances.

It's almost like he planned it-- he -is- a dangerous manipulative villain, after all.

Black Rose has posed:
    "Good," Yana tells Elycia, pointedly and with a self-satisfied sort of manner, "Because I'm proud to be a mutant." Which is truth. She's glad she has the abilities she has.
    Yana listens curiously to the different mutations that Magento espouses as examples, cites his points. "So. Can I ask you a question? If you were my age, and could choose - knowing what you know now," as if Magento's opinion had a measure of weight to it, a measure of weight to consider, "And you could either attend the Academy of Tomorrow," which is the Academy that Emma Frost is training the Hellions at, "Or Xavier's Institute, which would you choose?"
    Perhaps this shows that Yana doesn't know a -lot- about Magneto. Or if she does, she's not showing her cards. She'd already asked Dani and Lex the same thing, just the other night. But her blue eyes are fixated on Magneto. She adds, "My father has told me I can choose, but I'm running out of time. And, both have a measure of appeal.?" She doesn't ask, curiously, if there any schools in Genosha.

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani looks over at Elycia, "Witches, Natives, now Mutants, yeah." She offers a hand to Elycia, and smiles, "Glad to meet you, though. I'm Dani." She doesn't answer Yana's question, seeing that she already did the other night. And she chuckles, "I'm proud to be a Native American /and/ a mutant. Though I'm not really much of a witch..." More of a Valkyrie, really, but that's another story.

Starr has posed:
    "Witch burning was more of an example of the fear of the unknown. But yeah, Salem Witch Burnings, the war versus Native Americans....I'm not even going to go into the World Wars." Elycia does, however, shake Dani's hand. "You're still human though, which is the point I'm trying to make. Just different names for different human genetics. So....basically, what do you consider Doctor Strange? Human? Mutant? Or is he just scary because he has powers that normal humans don't have?"

Magneto has posed:
"The various labels we can apply to differentiate such are often more for one's own feelings of validation than a legitimate effort to properly understand." Magneto observes, largely in agreement with Elycia's take. "And without ample expertise and experimentation, largely depend on the attitude of whom one asks. With the myriad of methods found to evolve the species and special powers gifted to this or that individual, until I can definitively exclude a genetic component to such, I find it safest to consider us all, at the least, mutation-adjacent. The breadth and depth of potential there has only been grazed."

Yana's question draws Magnus' attention back to her, thoughtful. "What is it you wish to accomplish with the education you would receive, with the life ahead of you?" the Master of Magnetism inquires in return. Possibly to buy time as he tries to imagine a youth with.... choices and hope.

Black Rose has posed:
    "Well, that's simple," answers Yana towards Magneto. If she knows of the terrible past of the man, which likely few do and she probably doesn't, she shows no sign of it. "I want to maximie my potential." She considers, and from her sleeve she draws out a single playing card. Then, perhaps taking a page from Gambit, perhaps not, she throws the card towards a large piece of plywood covering up where likely homeless people had busted into an abandoned building. There's a brief half muted sound, and the wood shudders, and ... well, the playing card isn't there anymore. Instead, there's the slightest, thinnest hole in the plywood if one inspects, where the playing card simply cut through the plywood, effortlessly.
    She looks up to Magneto, and says, simply, "I've trained the best I can, or anyone else that I know can show me. I want to realize my full potential." This one isn't scared about her powers. And she has a fairly decent hold and control by her demeanor. "It'd be like a gifted musician limiting himself to just playing cover songs for his entire life when he could be the next Jack White."

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani blinks, then grins, "Whoa, way cool. Reminds me of one of the teachers." She doesn't mention Gambit by name, then raises her hands towards Yana, "Sorry, you heard my pitch, I'm not going to bore you any more with it." Because she does know that continued selling could have the opposite effect.

    Then she looks over at Elycia, and nods, "Yeah, we are all human, in the end. And Doctor Strange I consider... from a pretty safe distance?" She chuckles, "Sorry, seen enough magic to know that he's someone you respect all the time." Indeed, for those that can see such things, Dani has a pretty powerful magical aura herself, though it's more associated with a magical creature than a magician, as such.

Starr has posed:
    Elycia sees the magical aura all right, but she doesn't say anything outwardly. "Why from a safe distance, Dani?" She says as the card cuts through the plywood, and ELycia tilts her head. "That's interesting. That your power then?" She asks rather pointedly.......as the card floats back to Yana's hand. Yana is likely not doing it.

Magneto has posed:
The display of power is observed with an analytical eye, the clinical expertise of one who's seen it all before coupled with the intrigue of one who never gets tired of seeing it. When Magneto says that they're special, the powers to be cherished and not feared, he's entirely genuine-- and here, at least, is one mutant who already understands that much.

"Mm. With Charles, you are in perhaps the safest place in this nation for our kind. Some of his teachers are the foremost minds in their respective fields, and the Institute's resources, vast. His philosophy is one of compassion and hope, even if I see his methods providing little progress towards the widespread peace he claims to pursue." It's, perhaps, not an unfair assessment. Naive, but capable.

"With Emma, you are in the company of an ambitious, masterful survivor. A self-made woman of considerable power and insight, and a lioness in her own right with regard to protecting her charges. There is no right or wrong answer here, so I will simply encourage you to look within, and go in the direction that resonates with that will and drive you have already nurtured. Both can help you along your path, or divert you from it-- strength and purpose are honed from within, no matter how seductive another's lead."

A slow smile comes to Magneto's features, "Of course, with regard to mastery and understanding of one's powerset, there is only one premiere authority on this planet." He doesn't puff his chest out, but the tone leaves little doubt.

Black Rose has posed:
    The young blue-haired teenager seems to listen to Magneto with all the attention a man of his age and experience is due. When she asked for his opinion, she was genuine. Something, apparently, she heard of Magneto, then, was not of the murderous madmen, or the vile criminal so much of the media would paint him as. In fact, she's shown little but respect for him. She seems to appreciate the points, and counterpoints he makes, nodding slowly, and then blowing a puff of air. She smiles, wryly, "Big decision. Thank you," she says, earnestly. She might say more, but then the card - the card that had somehow flown past the plywood and into the building had somehow made it's way out of the micro-thin slash it'd used to pierce the plywood and float back to her.
    She takes the card, raising a brow, and looking back to Elycia who'd displayed a similiar talent with a pizza box a few moments ago.
    "Well. In a few weeks," she tells Magneto, "You can Google me, and find out which one I chose." Her lopsided razor-grin is nothing, if not amused. Heck. She might even -like- Magneto. Go figure.

Moonstar has posed:
    Dani looks wryly at Elycia, "Because when you see someone that powerful that deals with what you can't understand... caution isn't the worst idea in the world." She shrugs, not making any demonstration of her own mutation. At least, not a visible one.