ManicMina
~~ We're all mad here ~~
The building was complete, finally after 3 years of working on it. The master of the campus stood looking out a window on the second story. In his hand, he held a picture frame, a not so distant memory held within. "It is done." The mumbled, watching the sunset. For the day was over, but tomorrow was the beginning of a new program. "Charles, my dear friend. It is done."
The first Mutant Institute was built 4 years ago. Since it opened it's doors to students, it had been the home for many to get their lives on track. The college was continued education for those who graduated from Xavier Institute, but also for those who were too old to attend the school. Late bloomers or mutants who hadn't been able to attend Xavier's school for one reason or another. It was also a halfway house for those who found themselves in minor trouble with the law due to their powers and not being able to control them. This was Victor Armstrong's vision. A place for those who weren't able to attend the Xavier Institute but wanted to continue learning in a safe environment.
The new semester was starting and Victor stood at this office window, just as he did every semester since the institute was built. The letters and admission papers had been sent out months ago, and there was a bus bringing the new recruits who had chosen education over imprisonment. The last semester had been rocky for a lot of students, and the school itself. 'It is a new year', he reminded himself, taking a deep breath. From the window, he could see the bus pulling in with the students who would be attending this semester. As they exited the bus, he noticed there were fewer than last time. His brow furrowed a bit before he turned to start the tour and greeting ceremony that took place by the office.
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Glitch leaned her head against the cool glass window beside her. The two days in the county had been horrific. The cot was lumpy, the food had been grotesque, but worst of all was the knowledge that she could probably escape if she wanted to. Glitching the old computers that ran the place wouldn't have been hard. The three cameras that were there could have 'blinked' and shown the same image for a few minutes, at least, before someone noticed.
The musty bus was less than pleasant as well. The smell was a mix of an old gym and socks. When she had first entered it, she wanted to gag. One of the others who got on the bus did. The driver hummed, off-key, to old country western songs that were all about beer, trains, heartbreak, or their moms. The shocks on the bus must have gone out a decade ago. Each bump sent passengers jolting from their seats. The a/c had gone out, leaving the back of the bus a glorified sweet box on wheels.
Glitch noticed when the scenery changed from endless rows of trees to more subtle brush and landscaped areas. "Alright guys, this is it." The driver announced, flashing a badge at the front gate guard. The gates opened and Glitch found herself staring out the front windshield at the large building. It was much bigger than she had imagined with it's towering four stories. The building was grand but held tones of being relaxed. Nothing too extravagant.
As the bus came to a halt, Glitched noticed a middle-aged man descend from the front doors towards the bus. His business suite told her he was important and she concluded he was probably the Dean with how he stood at attention and waited for them to all get off the bus. Slowly, she got in line and headed out. As she got closer to the door, she was reminded how the fresh air felt. It was glorious in her lungs and against her face as she stepped off the bus. The mid-day sun shown hot down on her bare arms, making her flinch a bit as she stood in line with the others.
"I would like to welcome you to the Mutant Institute of Further Knowledge. I would like to congratulate you on making it into our college, as not everyone does, and on making the first step to having a better life."
Someone to the right of Glitch snickered, catching her attention for a moment before it moved back to the man before them. "My name is Victor Armstrong. I look forward to meeting each of you personally, as we will be working closely together so that you may reach your full potential."
Another snicker, closer this time, before Victor cleared his throat. "Let's get you out of the sun."
They descended from the circular driveway and up a small walkway, framed in large shrub bushes on each side. Lawn ornaments of art pieces could be seen on each side of the path, stretching to the ends of the buildings. Glitch looked back and forth trying to see all of them as they slowly filed in, one by one, into the doorway of the school. Quickly to watch her step, she glanced at the entrance. There was a large open space and shiny wood floors. Once she had passed the doorway, she took in a sweet scent of sugar and some kind of berry that she couldn't identify.
"Unless you have an elective, you won't be seen much here on the first floor. We have band classes -" he pointed to the room in the left upper corner, "- and art classes", he pointed to the room to the right of them. "To the left of us, we have the office. I have taken the liberty of getting all your information ready for you." An assistant handed him a stack of papers, which he began handing out. Attached to each packet was a picture of the student. Glitch took hers and glanced at it, ignoring the horrid mugshot that was paperclipped to the front. The second page held schedules and on the back was a map of the building. "Now, we shall have an assembly soon, so please do not stray far. Until then, which you have thirty minutes, please stay within this floor. That is all for now. I look forward to meeting you all." With his speech over, Victor turned on his heel and walked off towards an elevator directly to the back of the building from the doorway.
As the others made small talk amongst themselves, Glitch stared at the paper, examining the new schedule of her life for the next few months. Most of it was composed of normal college work, college Algebra, English Lit, and a science lab. Stuff she probably wouldn't use. Then, there were other classes like computer analysis, data comprehension and mapping, Focus, and Understanding Your Powers. These were the things that caught her attention and enticed her for more information.
It had been a simple choice. Jail or the college for 'freak shows who weren't caught as kids'. Free food, room, college classes, and courses on controlling your abilities. The place couldn't be all bad and was better than jail.
Glitch checked her phone that had been given back to her. She was happy to be back in her baggy cargo pants and a tank top, vs the burnt orange jumpsuit of the county jail. She still had twenty minutes to kill before the assembly started. Checking her messages, she started texting her aunt.
'Just got here. Looks nice. You would approve. I'll text later.'
With nothing left to do, she started looking around for anyone that was approachable. The diversity in the room was astonishing. There were at least 200 students already there and it looked like there was plenty of room for another couple hundred more. There were the normal mutants that looked like humans, but then others who had less humanoid features. There was one guy who looked like a rock, another with wings, and then one that was blue. She could have sworn she was someone with feathers too. It was nice being in a place of acceptance. Silently, she wished her uncle could have been there to see it. He would have enjoyed it as much as she was.
The first Mutant Institute was built 4 years ago. Since it opened it's doors to students, it had been the home for many to get their lives on track. The college was continued education for those who graduated from Xavier Institute, but also for those who were too old to attend the school. Late bloomers or mutants who hadn't been able to attend Xavier's school for one reason or another. It was also a halfway house for those who found themselves in minor trouble with the law due to their powers and not being able to control them. This was Victor Armstrong's vision. A place for those who weren't able to attend the Xavier Institute but wanted to continue learning in a safe environment.
The new semester was starting and Victor stood at this office window, just as he did every semester since the institute was built. The letters and admission papers had been sent out months ago, and there was a bus bringing the new recruits who had chosen education over imprisonment. The last semester had been rocky for a lot of students, and the school itself. 'It is a new year', he reminded himself, taking a deep breath. From the window, he could see the bus pulling in with the students who would be attending this semester. As they exited the bus, he noticed there were fewer than last time. His brow furrowed a bit before he turned to start the tour and greeting ceremony that took place by the office.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glitch leaned her head against the cool glass window beside her. The two days in the county had been horrific. The cot was lumpy, the food had been grotesque, but worst of all was the knowledge that she could probably escape if she wanted to. Glitching the old computers that ran the place wouldn't have been hard. The three cameras that were there could have 'blinked' and shown the same image for a few minutes, at least, before someone noticed.
The musty bus was less than pleasant as well. The smell was a mix of an old gym and socks. When she had first entered it, she wanted to gag. One of the others who got on the bus did. The driver hummed, off-key, to old country western songs that were all about beer, trains, heartbreak, or their moms. The shocks on the bus must have gone out a decade ago. Each bump sent passengers jolting from their seats. The a/c had gone out, leaving the back of the bus a glorified sweet box on wheels.
Glitch noticed when the scenery changed from endless rows of trees to more subtle brush and landscaped areas. "Alright guys, this is it." The driver announced, flashing a badge at the front gate guard. The gates opened and Glitch found herself staring out the front windshield at the large building. It was much bigger than she had imagined with it's towering four stories. The building was grand but held tones of being relaxed. Nothing too extravagant.
As the bus came to a halt, Glitched noticed a middle-aged man descend from the front doors towards the bus. His business suite told her he was important and she concluded he was probably the Dean with how he stood at attention and waited for them to all get off the bus. Slowly, she got in line and headed out. As she got closer to the door, she was reminded how the fresh air felt. It was glorious in her lungs and against her face as she stepped off the bus. The mid-day sun shown hot down on her bare arms, making her flinch a bit as she stood in line with the others.
"I would like to welcome you to the Mutant Institute of Further Knowledge. I would like to congratulate you on making it into our college, as not everyone does, and on making the first step to having a better life."
Someone to the right of Glitch snickered, catching her attention for a moment before it moved back to the man before them. "My name is Victor Armstrong. I look forward to meeting each of you personally, as we will be working closely together so that you may reach your full potential."
Another snicker, closer this time, before Victor cleared his throat. "Let's get you out of the sun."
They descended from the circular driveway and up a small walkway, framed in large shrub bushes on each side. Lawn ornaments of art pieces could be seen on each side of the path, stretching to the ends of the buildings. Glitch looked back and forth trying to see all of them as they slowly filed in, one by one, into the doorway of the school. Quickly to watch her step, she glanced at the entrance. There was a large open space and shiny wood floors. Once she had passed the doorway, she took in a sweet scent of sugar and some kind of berry that she couldn't identify.
"Unless you have an elective, you won't be seen much here on the first floor. We have band classes -" he pointed to the room in the left upper corner, "- and art classes", he pointed to the room to the right of them. "To the left of us, we have the office. I have taken the liberty of getting all your information ready for you." An assistant handed him a stack of papers, which he began handing out. Attached to each packet was a picture of the student. Glitch took hers and glanced at it, ignoring the horrid mugshot that was paperclipped to the front. The second page held schedules and on the back was a map of the building. "Now, we shall have an assembly soon, so please do not stray far. Until then, which you have thirty minutes, please stay within this floor. That is all for now. I look forward to meeting you all." With his speech over, Victor turned on his heel and walked off towards an elevator directly to the back of the building from the doorway.
As the others made small talk amongst themselves, Glitch stared at the paper, examining the new schedule of her life for the next few months. Most of it was composed of normal college work, college Algebra, English Lit, and a science lab. Stuff she probably wouldn't use. Then, there were other classes like computer analysis, data comprehension and mapping, Focus, and Understanding Your Powers. These were the things that caught her attention and enticed her for more information.
It had been a simple choice. Jail or the college for 'freak shows who weren't caught as kids'. Free food, room, college classes, and courses on controlling your abilities. The place couldn't be all bad and was better than jail.
Glitch checked her phone that had been given back to her. She was happy to be back in her baggy cargo pants and a tank top, vs the burnt orange jumpsuit of the county jail. She still had twenty minutes to kill before the assembly started. Checking her messages, she started texting her aunt.
'Just got here. Looks nice. You would approve. I'll text later.'
With nothing left to do, she started looking around for anyone that was approachable. The diversity in the room was astonishing. There were at least 200 students already there and it looked like there was plenty of room for another couple hundred more. There were the normal mutants that looked like humans, but then others who had less humanoid features. There was one guy who looked like a rock, another with wings, and then one that was blue. She could have sworn she was someone with feathers too. It was nice being in a place of acceptance. Silently, she wished her uncle could have been there to see it. He would have enjoyed it as much as she was.
