Authoress's notes: ok folks. First off, I know this is one big cliché – it's been done hundreds of times, I know. But I just feel like writing something new, and seeing as I seem to have obtained a temporary group of muses, of sorts, I'll just let them do their job, ai?
So then, I'll get the introductions out of the way before I rant anymore.
Title: Velvet Roses.
Author: Nini, the Electrocuted Sheep (formerly g0ldensnidget, a.k.a. Snitch).
Summary: Takes place three years after the events at Alkali Lake: many humans have mutated, Amanda among them. Could Professor Xavier, the bald man in the motorized wheelchair, with his calm demeanor and piercing eyes, help her gain some control over her mutation? Or will she be distracted by two certain mutants, namely... Logan and Kurt? ;) ;)
Rating: PG-13, mainly for some blood and death... Logan, mostly... and some swearing as well... again, mostly Logan, but Amanda too. ;) Also, possible character death. I'm not sure about it, and I'll give warning if I decide to include it.
Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men: Logan, Cyclops, Storm, Kurt, Rogue, Bobby, nor other students in the school if you happen come across them: Jubilee, Syrin, Piotr, Kitty... and of course, Professor Xavier. I don't own Magneto or Mystique, or Pyro. I do, however, own Amanda Norron, and any other characters you won't recognize, like Gabby, the Twins, and Vina ... Melavina, Loreyn, Matt, Terry, and Slayer are based on a few of my friends; they wanted to join in, so I had them invent their own characters and their powers and all... basically, their characters are based on their favorite characters, from Buffy or Ender's Game or some Manga or another. They also helped my get some ideas; in a way, they were my pseudo-muses.
Also – I'm basing this only on the movies – not on the cartoon (X-Men Evolution) or the comics. If you want cartoon/comics-fics, go to the 'Cartoons'/'Comics' category.
WARNING: this fic contains spoilers for anyone who has not yet seen both X-Men and X-Men-2. I REPEAR, SPIOLER-ALERT!
Now, I won't start the story just yet… tell you what. Here's a teaser…
Chapter 1 (Teaser): Introducing: Amanda Norron.
"Gimme me another beer, would'ja, Manda?"
"Sure thing, John," Amanda 'Manda' Norron replied, filling up another tankard and sliding it over to him on her way out. She reached the back-door/staff-only-entrance and stepped out, sitting on the edge of the cement steps and fanning herself with one hand. She liked working at the bar, with people all around, music blaring in her ears, and drinks at her fingertips; but sometimes it would all become a bit too much, and so she would take a break – Derrick would sub for her for a while – and cool off outside.
Amanda had been working at the bar for three years now. It wasn't exactly the best night-job available, but she enjoyed it and what cash it earned her every month. Her day-job as much less interesting. Here at the bar she would whip up exotic cocktails or plain beers for any paying customer, enjoy the good music, and meet plenty of hot guys. She knew all the regulars and greeted any newbies with a smile and a drink, on the house if he was cute.
One such newbie tonight had intrigued her particularly. He looked young -- around her age -- too young to be sitting at the bar drinking with such a haunted look on his face, rather than dance with people his own age. His brown hair hung in his face a bit, but not enough to hide the ruby quartz sunglasses he wore – what for, she did not know. "What can I get you?" she asked.
He looked up at her for a second before replying sullenly, "Just a beer, I suppose."
"Coming right at you." She filled up a tankard and set it on the bar with a thunk. "So why the long face?" she asked, hoping to spark up some conversation, maybe lighten the poor boy's spirits a bit.
"None of your business, really," he replied, taking a sip of his drink.
"All right then. I suppose it really isn't," she said, unperturbed. "Why the glasses, then?" She was not going to give up. She knew the look on his face. He needed someone to talk to ... desperately.
He glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. When it seemed she wasn't preparing to back off, he replied shortly, "Light sensitive."
"Ah." Amanda served the man next to them another refill and continued as though nothing was wrong. "Do you plan to become a regular, though? 'Cause if so, I'll need to know your name – unless you rather I call you 'Shades'."
'Shades' choked on his beer. "Scott Sum–"
"Scott." She held up a hand. "No last names needed until you're really a regular. So, light-sensitive, gloomy Scott," she leaned her elbows on the bar. "Lost love?"
Scott gave her a quizzical look. "How'd you know?"
"Been there, done that, felt the pain. Trust me."
Scott gave her a sympathetic look. "Old boyfriend?"
She shrugged. "Fiancé."
"Left?"
"Died. Three years ago. Exactly, as a matter of fact."
"Three years?" Amanda got the feeling that behind the glasses, Scott was narrowing his eyes. "How did he die?"
Amanda shrugged. "Mutation, I suppose. We were engaged... And then the whole mutant thing. The whole of humanity took a U-turn... said happy couple included."
"What?" Scott whispered. "You mutated?"
Amanda shrugged casually. "Who knows? It was three years ago. Nothing seems to have changed much. Why -- what's your mutation?"
Scott tapped the glasses. "Optic laser beams."
"Ah. I see. Well then." She sat down on a stool, yelling at Derrick to take over for a while, and pulled up a mug of beer for herself. "I don't suppose you could give me the number for your mutant doctor..."
"Why not?" Rather drunk, Scott pulled a small white business card from an inner coat pocket. "If you really are a mutant, he might be able to help."
Amanda stared at the small card, eyebrows raised. "Xavier's? I've heard of the school. Are you saying that...?"
"Yep. You know where it is?"
"No ... but I'll find it, if it can help me find myself."
Authoress's notes: So? How was that for a teaser? That last sentence was horribly clichéd, I know; but hey, this is just the teaser. Tell me what you think, and I'll post chapter two. If I'm satisfied with the reviews, that is…