knocking at the door [open]

[mightymorphin]

Who: Morph and you!
Where: The newly-spawned X-Mansion
What: Both closed and open prompts taking place in the X-Mansion this month! Feel free to use this space for your own closed threads in the mansion, just make sure to note that in the subject line.
Warnings: Nothing yet


A. DISCOVERY - CLOSED TO ROGUE, BACKDATED TO OCT 5TH
[Morph was in Archangel's winged form, on the search for the missing Peter by air, taking advantage of the good eyesight that came along with it to check out alleys and rooftops. That was when they first spotted it - something new just outside of Aldrip, a large building that looked achingly familiar the closer they came to it. It nagged at them, enough that once they finished checking that part of the city, Morph only briefly landed on a rooftop before winging it in that direction.

What they saw nearly made them forget to flap their wings. The mansion was unmistakable, looking for all the world like a someone had scooped it up and dropped it there. Morph circled around it once, then landed in the front yard, staring up at the building in sheer disbelief as they shifted back to their regular form. The last time they had seen the mansion, it was a demolished, scorched ruin. Morph had shared a beer with Logan right there on the lawn while waiting for the fires to die down. But this mansion wasn't damaged in the slightest - it could've come from the day before the Prime Sentinels attacked, or any of the more peaceful days before that point.

After a long moment, they finally fish out their tablet to write a quick text to Rogue.]

hey, leave the city and fly southeast, right now.
no one's dying but you NEED to see this.

B. OPEN HOUSE
[After the announcement made on the network, the mansion's been left open for the Chosen to wander into. For anyone interested a bright yellow sign has been posted with an arrow pointing towards the elevator, and another sign inside the elevator letting guests know which floor will leave them outside the Danger Room.

The rest of the mansion's doors are unlocked, left open for anyone to wander around as they wish. There's a few locations that might be of interest, including a pool and a basketball court outside. The first floor has a sizeable library and a living room with a big-screen CRT and a VCR, along with a shelf full of VHS tapes. The second basement, above the one containing the Danger Room, has its own gym and locker rooms, along with some laboratory space that's going unused.

The only places that are semi off-limits are the office on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second floor. Start rifling around in either area and chances are that one of the new residents will find you doing it, unless they're sufficiently distracted elsewhere. The mansion will also get locked back up around 10 PM each night, so no late night visits unless you ask about it!]


C. WILDCARD
[Morph can be found pretty much anywhere on the mansion grounds if you need to talk to them!]

Comments

a.

[southernchere]

It better be good, Morph. I was just about to get in the bath.

[mightymorphin]

skip the bath! don't worry about being smelly, this is way more important!

[southernchere]

You've must of lost your ever-lovin mind if you think I oughta go out there smellin like a sewer gator's ass.

Did you forget I've got wounds I got to clean? I'm not turnin into a zombie cuz of sum infected burns.

[mightymorphin]

[Really? At a time like this??]

look, there's better bathtubs over here! and probably better medical supplies, too. I haven't checked yet.

trust me, it's worth the wait.

[southernchere]

Fine. Let me drain the water and get dressed.

Where am I flyin to again?

[mightymorphin]

fly southeast. you'll know it when you see it. it's hard to miss.

[southernchere]

Southeast. Alright, Sug. I'll be there faster than a jackrabbit.

[mightymorphin]

[While Morph was waiting for Rogue to finish her bath, they took a quick look inside, but they hadn't gone very far. It was just enough to verify that the mansion was how they remembered it - and well, it was, down to the furniture and even the movie collection in the living room. It was a little eerie, after they had watched the destruction of their home with their own eyes. It warred with their sheer relief at just being home, even if home wasn't on the right world or with all the people that should've been there. It would be easier to pretend, but maybe that was the danger behind the mansion being here.

They ended up back out on the front lawn, mostly because they wanted to be easy to spot when Rogue flew in. Morph is sitting on the grass with their tablet in hand, periodically glancing up at the sky in between checking the network.]

[southernchere]

[ so she flies off in that direction and, in time, they will see something in coming from a distance. it starts as a speck, but grows larger and larger and forms into a person. but that person steadily comes into a halt and hovers in the air as she witnesses this surprise, morph had been rambling on about it.

given by the sudden pause and just... floating there, her body language is extremely telling. she is completely in shock, and maybe appearing a little skeptical that their home is really there. could this be system's doing? a trick? the entire school was destroyed! so there's no possible way it's down below her. rogue is still some distance away, so if morph wants to chat with her, they're going to have to fly to her. ]

b;

[laserguy]

[Scott, of course, had to see what the mansion was like. He's not sure what to fully expect, or more accurately, not sure how to really feel when he steps foot in there, but might as well get that anxiety and anticipation out now by visiting. Not like he can avoid it, nor does he want to, especially if the Danger Room exists and if the mansion is where Morph and Rogue are going to be staying for the foreseeable future.

Still, there's something a little curious, maybe even nervous, as Scott steps inside the mansion, closing the front door behind him before looking around. It's different, yet similar, to the mansion back home. However, seeing that he was only there for a couple of days, it doesn't fully give him a 'bizarro' type feeling, but Scott still makes sure that his hands are in his pockets as he takes everything in.

He probably should head to the Danger Room, but honestly, he's kind of curious about exploring the main parts of the building. Maybe seeing Scott's room...]

I'm here. [He calls out, figuring to at least let others know that he's here too.]

[mightymorphin]

[When they see her stop overhead, Morph stands and waves at her from the ground... but when she doesn't respond, they wait just a moment before shift to Archangel's form and taking to the sky to join her.

Once they're at about the same height in the air, they stay a safe distance away since they have to keep the razor-sharp wings flapping, their expression looking all the more serious while it's on Warren's face.]

It's really there. I took a quick look inside, and it's just like... before the Prime Sentinels attacked us. I wanted to wait for you before taking a closer look.

[It went without saying that there could be a dangerous surprise in there, but Morph didn't know for sure. The mansion had been dead quiet when they had ventured in there.]

[mightymorphin]

[With so few people living in such a large space, the mansion is almost dead quiet... until Scott calls out, and then there's the distant sound of a door closing from somewhere on the second floor. That's followed by the increasingly louder sound of frantic flapping, until a seagull zooms right down the stairwell and makes an abrupt landing at the bottom of the stairs.

After briefly shaking out their feathers, Morph shifts back to their regular form, hands on their hips as they regard Scott.]

Hey, welcome to the mansion! Or well, the totally All-American version of the mansion. I swear, any tea you find in the kitchen is probably Ororo's.

[Okay, so knowing there was a British version of the Professor in Scott's world was still kinda funny, but...]

Is this place... anything like you remember it?

[southernchere]

But... how in the tarnation did it get here? [ maybe that's a bit of a silly question when they are inside a computer, where things can be uploaded and downloaded. so she paraphrases the question: ]

Did the AI went into our minds while we were snoozin', and pick it out from our memories?

[ that seems more plausible than having it magically appear out of nowhere, especially when their home was in shambles the last they've seen it. but rogue steadily begins to descend foot by foot along with her comrade, her expression still looking rather skeptical. ]

[laserguy]

[At least he's not at all jump scared when the seagull suddenly turns into the familiar form of his teammate. Scott just raises his hand in greeting, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth because well, he is glad to see Morph and everything. It's nice that both them and Rogue managed to get a little something from home, especially if they're going to be stuck here for a bit longer.

He... he doesn't regret or feel guilty about asking for their help like that, but he knows it must be frustrating for them.]

Let me double check.

[He closes his eyes for a moment, before taking an exaggerated sniff around the foyer, as if trying to find a particular scent.] Well, it smells less like a museum. [...] Only getting a hint of that Britishness around here...

[But he'll give it a 'pass' on that American test.]

[mightymorphin]

I don't know how else it could get that information. Except... our memories wouldn't be perfect, right? Are things we don't remember well not going to be here?

[It was a weird thing to think about! And another reason for the two of them to go through the mansion and make sure everything was as it should be. It might be possible to answer that one just by taking a good look around.

Morph spaces out their wing beats to sink further down along with her, peering down at the mansion below them. Everything seemed as it should be; the pool was even full of water, and the basketball court intact. There was no lake behind the mansion anymore, however. The building had been placed down whole, along with some of the yard, but it wasn't the entire acres-large property by any means.]

Hey, do you think this means we got our stuff back?

[southernchere]

I sure dang hope so. With the local fellas givin' us the stink eye, having my set of clothes in my closet still intact will do me all kinds of good.

[ not touching earth just yet, the southerner glides towards the front door, but then her gloved hand hovers tentatively over the doorknob — like she's afraid if she touches it, it will vanish in front of them or maybe burst into flames.

but she swallows thickly and curls her digits around the door handle, then twists. the building creaks out its greeting, but the eerie silence of their home feels less than welcoming. however regardless the shivery air, rogue lands gracefully and cautiously marches in with her emeralds casting to the left, the right, to the floorboards, and the ceiling. just all over to be sure this isn't some sort of hoax created by the simulation. ]

[mightymorphin]

[Okay, Morph can't help but start snickering at seeing Scott putting on a bloodhound act. So is that what Britishness smells like? About half the team was from other countries, but somehow there just weren't any Brits. Except for in Scott's timeline, of course.]

If it's being a museum that makes it smell British, be careful going into the library. That's where the Professor's put most of his travel kick-knacks.

[After all, it's still a mansion and there were a few things lying around that pointed at that ridiculous wealth, if the size of the property wasn't enough. The living areas were generally more practical, just big and well-furnished. However the mansion had looked before Xavier made it into his school, it was clearly built to handle all the people that it could house in its many bedrooms.]

If you wanna just look around, I'll go with you and make sure you don't get lost. I can't imagine the place will be wildly different, though.

[mightymorphin]

[Morph lands before she does, but remains a good few feet behind her, shifting back to their natural form in short order. When she does go inside, Morph follows behind her, silent for a moment as she takes it all in.

Yep, it was a little creepy for the mansion to be this quiet. Back in their own world, it only got this way in the early hours of the morning, but only on the occasions when Morph was the only one dealing with insomnia and didn't end up with accidental company. Right now, though... you really would be able to hear a mouse, if there was anything living left in there at all.]

I'll get the lights on, [they suggest, feeling an urge to talk just to fill the silence. Morph moves to hit the light switch, then moves on the short distance to the living room to do the same, banishing some of the gloom.]

You're right about your clothes. Let's keep our fingers crossed on that one. But so far, so good?

b, hopefully it's not too late

[nightwild]

[After getting the instructions from Morph, Fauna sets out. And, well. It's pretty hard to miss a mansion like that. She's looking around on the grounds, at first, but mostly she's just... Staring at the front door. Is she even allowed into a place like this?

Going in through the front door seems... weird. She's not allowed in these places. She should have to sneak in. Right? Maybe go in through a window?

She's just going to be staring at the front door without taking any action for a bit, if Morph wants to talk to her here.]

[laserguy]

I think I can track the scent from here. There's a strong smell definitely coming from that direction.

[A scene that's definitely old and British. As he mentioned before, he's the expert.

But as Morph offers to give him a tour, some of that prior teenage attitude slips, making Scott look a little more serious. Yeah, he didn't just come here to make jokes, really. A lot of that was just a front to hide how awkward some of this feels.]

Yeah. I... I want to take a look around. [Compare the two buildings. He still has memories of his stay in the mansion at home and he can already note some differences, but he won't be satisfied until he tours the entire building. Even if it sort of reinforces that he and Morph really aren't from the same timeline, it's okay.

He's learned, especially last month, that they're still X-Men. That's what matters the most.]

Do you think I can see what your Scott's room looks like?

not late at all!

[mightymorphin]

[The front doors have been left open since people were expected to be coming and going, and after getting signs up for pointing the way to the Danger Room, Morph has had plenty of other things to keep them busy. As it turned out, there were a lot of tasks that came along with sudden home ownership, especially when it was a place as huge as a literal mansion.

In fact, when Morph opens the door, they have a plastic skeleton draped over one arm and rolls of orange and black crepe paper in their other hand. Though they're surprised to see someone lingering on the front porch, they soon break out into a smile.]

Fauna, there are are! Come on in. You want that primer on how to use the Danger Room, right?

[nightwild]

[She jumps a little, but... Okay, composure. Danger room. That sounds goo-]

What the hell are you carrying?

[.... wait, yeah, that seems important. thanks, mouth, you got there WAY ahead of the brain.]

[mightymorphin]

What, this? Just some Halloween decorations. I found 'em in storage in the top level basement.

[Morph leaves the doors open as they lead the way inside, where sure enough there are a couple of large plastic containers that have 'HALLOWEEN' written on them in faded marker on the side. Rather than dealing with it right now, they toss the decorations they were carrying back onto the boxes before turning to face her again.]

It's hard for two people to decorate this whole place, but I can put up a few things to make it look a little more festive.

[nightwild]

... Oh, right, Halloween. That thing.

[Not that it's very big in Japan to begin with, but she in particular never got to do anything with it, and didn't care that much.]

You, uh... want some help?

[She did come here for the Danger Room, true, but... well. Leaving the two people she fought before to do all the decorating feels... kind of rude. Maybe this can make up for it.]

[mightymorphin]

Where I'm from, it's a great excuse for a party. And it doesn't hurt that you can be a more obvious mutant on Halloween and not a whole lot of people will realize it. Or more obviously inhuman in general.

[After all, Fauna had the ears and tail going on, and they had no idea if that was normal in her world. Morph stops to consider her offer for a moment, rubbing their chin in thought.]

That would make it go a lot faster... if you want to help out, I won't say no. Just pick stuff out of the boxes and go from there. And let's keep all the decorations on the first floor, otherwise I'll still be finding rubber bats by Christmas.