Title: A Different Life
Author: Viral
Author's Note: This is an alternate universe, with many of the favorite X-Characters included. They still have their mutant abilities, but there was never a group called the X-Men in this story. This my first attempt at a mystery. And because this is an alternate universe, don't expect the characters to be the way you're used to them. :)
Repeated Warning: And because this is an alternate universe, don't expect the characters to be the way you're used to them. Therefore, at many points, they are bound to be different from their portrayal by Marvel.
Characters: Too many to list.
-=-=-=-
David Munroe, the father of Ororo, was down at the bar, called "Barre d' Imagination". It was near midnight and the bar was just getting into the partying in its entire drunken splendor. Despite the fact that the next day was Monday and most of the occupants of the bar would have to go to work, there were more alcoholic beverages than the bar's population could handle being passed around.
"Now the party can begin!" David said as he pointed out to the door where Remy Lebeau stood with a smirk on his face. "How many do you think you can guzzle tonight?"
"As many as you give me," Remy answered with a sly smile on his face, "Bring it on!"
The bartender, who happened to be a successful female, was named Meggan Braddock. But, the men did not see her as a female. They saw her as a strong Haitian male with slick hair and a thick accent. The reason they saw this illusion is because Meggan could change the shape of her body to fit anything she desired. In order to run a successful business such as this, she required a strong and masculine look. Looking to her patrons, she nodded as Remy began to try and break his drinking record.
The night continued in this manner with small brawls, pool and card playing, and Remy continuing to work on breaking his record until Officer Munroe came through the front door. Everything silenced and the floor cleared as people made way for Ororo. Every Sunday night she would have to come in and drag her father out. And every Sunday night, the bar patrons prepared to make a path for Ororo to take her father.
-=-=-
"I'm afraid that if they find someone else to fill in his spot, they aren't going to keep him. Every Monday he goes in with a hangover and a nasty attitude," N'Dare complained over the phone to Raven Darkholme, her psychiatrist.
"N'Dare, we have discussed this before," Raven said in a soft voice and with intellectuality expressed throughout, "This is a very serious matter and the time is precise for you to begin recovery. Your husband is in need of counsel. And for $250 an hour, I would be more than willing to use my profession in helping him."
"Ms. Darkholme, can you hold? I have a call on the other line," N'Dare asked as she heard a small beep in her ear.
"Sure. You are the one paying for this call, correct?" Raven answered politely, or in a tone that seemed to be polite.
-=-=-
"Hello?" N'Dare asked over the phone.
"What are you making for lunch, honey?" Ororo asked, bulking her voice to sound like a man, but obviously failing.
"Nothing." N'Dare answered blankly.
"Well, I'm not coming over today. I'll call tomorrow," Ororo said and hung up the phone. It was nearing 3:00 and she was hoping none of the students were interested in the law. The last thing she needed was some wild teenager talking in her ear all day and asking questions. Ororo cringed and went to pick up her gun at the thought of it.
A rapid knock arrived at Ororo's office door. Her blue eyes looked up, and as usual, she refused to open it. She sat with her hands folded, waiting to see if the person was smart enough to open the door, or genius enough to just leave.
"Officer Munroe, I know you're totally in there!" came a prissy teenage voice. Ororo continued to sit with her hands folded, annoyed that her high school intern student was here. Rolling her eyes, she took a stretchable band out of her desk drawer and pulled her hair together in the back to make a long ponytail out of her lengthy cloudy-white hair.
Finally, a redheaded girl opened the door, her green eyes immediately meeting Ororo's annoyed face.
"I knew you were, like, in here. Why don't you, like, answer the door or whatever?"
"Oh, like, my gosh!" Ororo said, mocking the girl, "Like how many times did I just like? Like can you count?"
"That is so not funny," the girl said as she approached Ororo's desk with a signed paper in her hand. "I'm Jean Grey, your new high school intern."
"Really?" Ororo asked sarcastically, "I didn't notice."
"Oh my goodness," Jean said with wide eyes, "You think I'm a slut."
"Did I say that out loud?" Ororo asked, bewildered with a suppressed laugh in her gut.
"No, I can like read thoughts," Jean said with a frown on her face.
"Ah, well. I wonder where I got that idea. Except for that time I you were down with Scott Summers down by the swamp."
"Who told you that? Were you like spying on us? Does my mom know?" Jean asked with a scared look on her face.
"No, I can like read thoughts," Ororo lied with a smirk on her face.
"Like really?"
"Like no," Ororo said, becoming more annoyed than before. "Just sit down."
-=-=-
"So young Scott, you want to be a priest?" Father Kurt Wagner asks Scott Summers as they sit inside the pews of the medium-sized Catholic worship sanctuary.
"Yes," Scott answers, "The joys I find in reciting the words of life are untouched."
"You do understand that you must be celibate for the rest of your life?"
"Celibate?"
"You must be a virgin, Scott," Kurt answers dully.
"Oh, well, yeah. I'm sex-free," Scott answers with a smile on his face, "Sex-free is the way to be."
"Mhm," Kurt says, lifting himself up from the pew and looking down at Scott, "Are you thirsty?"
"Yes, Father," Scott answers.
"Let us try some of this sacrificial wine, then," he answers, "It just came in today."
"Isn't this against the law of the church or something?" Scott asks.
"Oh no," Kurt answers as he pours the wine, "Don't worry. This is tradition."
-=-=-
"So, like remind me, why are we here?" Jean asks as Ororo stops the police car at Barre d' Imagination.
"Because I feel like it!" Ororo says as she gets out the car and slams the door furiously. She would have to hear that same annoying voice until Friday everyday after school, which gave them 13 more hours together that week.
"Aren't we supposed to be, like, keeping the peace or something -- you know, fighting the good fight and pulling out those awesome guns and shooting or whatever?"
"Do you take breath between sentences?" Ororo asks as they walk towards the front door of the bar. "Listen to me, when we get inside don't you dare say a word. This is the gossip house during the day. It's how I keep track of everything. Well, here and that loud-mouthed weatherwoman Kitty Pryde calls me and tells me every bit of rumor she heard at the hair salon."
"She never gets the weather right," Jean commented, suddenly changing the subject. "She said it was supposed to rain today."
Ororo let out a chuckle.
-=-=-
"So, what is down with you, yo?" Kitty Pryde said as she sat in the hairdresser's seat, getting her hair styled. Kitty was always trying to seem more 'hip', constantly using terms of the younger generation and sounding like a fool when she did so. She was asking Lorna Dane who was sitting in the chair next to her.
"I'm just very upset with the Clearwater weatherwoman. You said we were supposed to have rain today, so I brought out my big umbrella," Lorna said, pointing over to a thick black umbrella on the other side of the room.
"Yeah, well, the Weather Channel is where I get my information from, dogg," Kitty pouts.
"I am not a dog!" Lorna said angrily.
"Chill out, homie before I go get mah news possie and blow your-"
"Stop," Betsy Braddock commanded. "Too many words were about to come out of your mouth."
"You telepaths be off da chain, yo," Kitty answered. "So, what you been pickin up lately?"
"Well," Betsy said with a giddy tone in her voice as she spun the chair around so they would both be facing the large mirror. "Theresa Cassidy was in my chair today. By the way, don't get too close to her. Looks like she might be harboring some lice in her head. But, anyway, I was browsing through her mind today and found out that she caught her dad, Sean Cassidy, with Emma Frost."
"We all know about that," Lorna interrupts, "Whenever Theresa screams the whole county hears what she's talking about."
"True dat," Kitty agreed.
"Wait, hold up now. When Emma was in here I was in her head too, and I found out that she knew nothing about it," Betsy continued with a remarkable tone of interest.
"It could've been Raven..." Kitty thought out loud.
"Or Emma could have been hiding her thoughts," Lorna says as she stands up from her chair with her hair finally done. "You know she's psychic too."
"I highly doubt she can hide her thoughts from me," Betsy said, immediately stopping her work on Kitty's hair to give Lorna a look of strong pride.
"Well, listen to you," Lorna laughs, "Humble yourself a little bit. Men don't want loud girls." Lorna fixes herself up in the mirror, fixing her blouse to show just enough cleavage. "Men want me."
"Another private meeting with the school principal?" Kitty asks.
"No, it's a school board meeting," Lorna says with a smile on her face, "And Betsy, next time you read my thoughts, keep it to yourself. I have an image to maintain."
"You've already exposed enough to have a permanent image for yourself that no one can take apart," Betsy answers as she returns to doing Kitty's hair.
-=-=-=-
Author's Closing Note: I tried to include a lot more characters into the story. So everyone gets at least a peek at his or her favorite. Anyway, there is still no clue on what the mystery is. You know, have to get all the introductions and town scenery to make the big picture. Anyway, thanks for the reviews and I hope this added chapter met your expectations.
Author: Viral
Author's Note: This is an alternate universe, with many of the favorite X-Characters included. They still have their mutant abilities, but there was never a group called the X-Men in this story. This my first attempt at a mystery. And because this is an alternate universe, don't expect the characters to be the way you're used to them. :)
Repeated Warning: And because this is an alternate universe, don't expect the characters to be the way you're used to them. Therefore, at many points, they are bound to be different from their portrayal by Marvel.
Characters: Too many to list.
-=-=-=-
David Munroe, the father of Ororo, was down at the bar, called "Barre d' Imagination". It was near midnight and the bar was just getting into the partying in its entire drunken splendor. Despite the fact that the next day was Monday and most of the occupants of the bar would have to go to work, there were more alcoholic beverages than the bar's population could handle being passed around.
"Now the party can begin!" David said as he pointed out to the door where Remy Lebeau stood with a smirk on his face. "How many do you think you can guzzle tonight?"
"As many as you give me," Remy answered with a sly smile on his face, "Bring it on!"
The bartender, who happened to be a successful female, was named Meggan Braddock. But, the men did not see her as a female. They saw her as a strong Haitian male with slick hair and a thick accent. The reason they saw this illusion is because Meggan could change the shape of her body to fit anything she desired. In order to run a successful business such as this, she required a strong and masculine look. Looking to her patrons, she nodded as Remy began to try and break his drinking record.
The night continued in this manner with small brawls, pool and card playing, and Remy continuing to work on breaking his record until Officer Munroe came through the front door. Everything silenced and the floor cleared as people made way for Ororo. Every Sunday night she would have to come in and drag her father out. And every Sunday night, the bar patrons prepared to make a path for Ororo to take her father.
-=-=-
"I'm afraid that if they find someone else to fill in his spot, they aren't going to keep him. Every Monday he goes in with a hangover and a nasty attitude," N'Dare complained over the phone to Raven Darkholme, her psychiatrist.
"N'Dare, we have discussed this before," Raven said in a soft voice and with intellectuality expressed throughout, "This is a very serious matter and the time is precise for you to begin recovery. Your husband is in need of counsel. And for $250 an hour, I would be more than willing to use my profession in helping him."
"Ms. Darkholme, can you hold? I have a call on the other line," N'Dare asked as she heard a small beep in her ear.
"Sure. You are the one paying for this call, correct?" Raven answered politely, or in a tone that seemed to be polite.
-=-=-
"Hello?" N'Dare asked over the phone.
"What are you making for lunch, honey?" Ororo asked, bulking her voice to sound like a man, but obviously failing.
"Nothing." N'Dare answered blankly.
"Well, I'm not coming over today. I'll call tomorrow," Ororo said and hung up the phone. It was nearing 3:00 and she was hoping none of the students were interested in the law. The last thing she needed was some wild teenager talking in her ear all day and asking questions. Ororo cringed and went to pick up her gun at the thought of it.
A rapid knock arrived at Ororo's office door. Her blue eyes looked up, and as usual, she refused to open it. She sat with her hands folded, waiting to see if the person was smart enough to open the door, or genius enough to just leave.
"Officer Munroe, I know you're totally in there!" came a prissy teenage voice. Ororo continued to sit with her hands folded, annoyed that her high school intern student was here. Rolling her eyes, she took a stretchable band out of her desk drawer and pulled her hair together in the back to make a long ponytail out of her lengthy cloudy-white hair.
Finally, a redheaded girl opened the door, her green eyes immediately meeting Ororo's annoyed face.
"I knew you were, like, in here. Why don't you, like, answer the door or whatever?"
"Oh, like, my gosh!" Ororo said, mocking the girl, "Like how many times did I just like? Like can you count?"
"That is so not funny," the girl said as she approached Ororo's desk with a signed paper in her hand. "I'm Jean Grey, your new high school intern."
"Really?" Ororo asked sarcastically, "I didn't notice."
"Oh my goodness," Jean said with wide eyes, "You think I'm a slut."
"Did I say that out loud?" Ororo asked, bewildered with a suppressed laugh in her gut.
"No, I can like read thoughts," Jean said with a frown on her face.
"Ah, well. I wonder where I got that idea. Except for that time I you were down with Scott Summers down by the swamp."
"Who told you that? Were you like spying on us? Does my mom know?" Jean asked with a scared look on her face.
"No, I can like read thoughts," Ororo lied with a smirk on her face.
"Like really?"
"Like no," Ororo said, becoming more annoyed than before. "Just sit down."
-=-=-
"So young Scott, you want to be a priest?" Father Kurt Wagner asks Scott Summers as they sit inside the pews of the medium-sized Catholic worship sanctuary.
"Yes," Scott answers, "The joys I find in reciting the words of life are untouched."
"You do understand that you must be celibate for the rest of your life?"
"Celibate?"
"You must be a virgin, Scott," Kurt answers dully.
"Oh, well, yeah. I'm sex-free," Scott answers with a smile on his face, "Sex-free is the way to be."
"Mhm," Kurt says, lifting himself up from the pew and looking down at Scott, "Are you thirsty?"
"Yes, Father," Scott answers.
"Let us try some of this sacrificial wine, then," he answers, "It just came in today."
"Isn't this against the law of the church or something?" Scott asks.
"Oh no," Kurt answers as he pours the wine, "Don't worry. This is tradition."
-=-=-
"So, like remind me, why are we here?" Jean asks as Ororo stops the police car at Barre d' Imagination.
"Because I feel like it!" Ororo says as she gets out the car and slams the door furiously. She would have to hear that same annoying voice until Friday everyday after school, which gave them 13 more hours together that week.
"Aren't we supposed to be, like, keeping the peace or something -- you know, fighting the good fight and pulling out those awesome guns and shooting or whatever?"
"Do you take breath between sentences?" Ororo asks as they walk towards the front door of the bar. "Listen to me, when we get inside don't you dare say a word. This is the gossip house during the day. It's how I keep track of everything. Well, here and that loud-mouthed weatherwoman Kitty Pryde calls me and tells me every bit of rumor she heard at the hair salon."
"She never gets the weather right," Jean commented, suddenly changing the subject. "She said it was supposed to rain today."
Ororo let out a chuckle.
-=-=-
"So, what is down with you, yo?" Kitty Pryde said as she sat in the hairdresser's seat, getting her hair styled. Kitty was always trying to seem more 'hip', constantly using terms of the younger generation and sounding like a fool when she did so. She was asking Lorna Dane who was sitting in the chair next to her.
"I'm just very upset with the Clearwater weatherwoman. You said we were supposed to have rain today, so I brought out my big umbrella," Lorna said, pointing over to a thick black umbrella on the other side of the room.
"Yeah, well, the Weather Channel is where I get my information from, dogg," Kitty pouts.
"I am not a dog!" Lorna said angrily.
"Chill out, homie before I go get mah news possie and blow your-"
"Stop," Betsy Braddock commanded. "Too many words were about to come out of your mouth."
"You telepaths be off da chain, yo," Kitty answered. "So, what you been pickin up lately?"
"Well," Betsy said with a giddy tone in her voice as she spun the chair around so they would both be facing the large mirror. "Theresa Cassidy was in my chair today. By the way, don't get too close to her. Looks like she might be harboring some lice in her head. But, anyway, I was browsing through her mind today and found out that she caught her dad, Sean Cassidy, with Emma Frost."
"We all know about that," Lorna interrupts, "Whenever Theresa screams the whole county hears what she's talking about."
"True dat," Kitty agreed.
"Wait, hold up now. When Emma was in here I was in her head too, and I found out that she knew nothing about it," Betsy continued with a remarkable tone of interest.
"It could've been Raven..." Kitty thought out loud.
"Or Emma could have been hiding her thoughts," Lorna says as she stands up from her chair with her hair finally done. "You know she's psychic too."
"I highly doubt she can hide her thoughts from me," Betsy said, immediately stopping her work on Kitty's hair to give Lorna a look of strong pride.
"Well, listen to you," Lorna laughs, "Humble yourself a little bit. Men don't want loud girls." Lorna fixes herself up in the mirror, fixing her blouse to show just enough cleavage. "Men want me."
"Another private meeting with the school principal?" Kitty asks.
"No, it's a school board meeting," Lorna says with a smile on her face, "And Betsy, next time you read my thoughts, keep it to yourself. I have an image to maintain."
"You've already exposed enough to have a permanent image for yourself that no one can take apart," Betsy answers as she returns to doing Kitty's hair.
-=-=-=-
Author's Closing Note: I tried to include a lot more characters into the story. So everyone gets at least a peek at his or her favorite. Anyway, there is still no clue on what the mystery is. You know, have to get all the introductions and town scenery to make the big picture. Anyway, thanks for the reviews and I hope this added chapter met your expectations.