[CENTER][img]https://i.imgur.com/cGvkMjq.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/vT7cD5e.png[/img][B][COLOR=goldenrod]   S E A S O N   O N E :   H O M E C O M I N G[/color][/B] [img]https://i.imgur.com/vT7cD5e.png[/img] [/CENTER][COLOR=#c9b142][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=gold][i]The Xavier Institute[/i] - [I]Westchester, New York[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]New Mutants #1.03[/b][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub][sub][indent][color=#c9b142][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/color] [@Retired][/indent][/sub]

[indent][color=silver]The auditorium felt [i]foreboding[/i].

It was like stepping back into the Murderama, except now the X-Baby sat in the audience. It was [i]odd[/i]. The adults were standing on the stage. 

...and all the kids were in the audience?

This was the [b]opposite[/b] of Cherub’s upbringing. It didn’t make the auditorium seem any less forboding. If anything, it made the experience only that much more [i]alien[/i]. To not be up on the stage. To not be forced to perform, constantly coached to be the image or embodiment of a popular icon.

He had to always be what the audience wanted him to be.

...even if the audience wanted him dead?

[color=snow][i]“Hey.”[/i][/color]

The blue-eyed angel blinked, snapped back to reality. 

[i]“...monitored by experienced mentors who will guide each of you...”[/i]

Turning his head, the blue-skinned youth looked over at Evan. The other boy had a look of concern on his face. Flashing his best smile at the other boy, the diminutive Archangel tried to play it off, turning his attention back to the man that was speaking.

The boy’s attention span didn’t hold out for very long. Glancing around the auditorium, there were [i]a lot[/i] of faces. And not a lot of names to go with them. Well, except for a few, but it was strange because Cherub knew them by their X-Baby equivalent.

Sammy’s name was called, the blue-skinned youth searching through the audience for the orange scaled fish head that defined his roommate.

[i]“...and, um... [b]Cherub[/b].”[/i]

[color=skyblue]“Wait,”[/color] the boy chirped, holding up his hands. Had he said that these were five man groups? How many named had he just called? Counting on his fingers, the dim light of realization briefly illuminated the boy’s face. [color=skyblue]“Oh,”[/color] he uttered, turning to look over at Evan.

They were going to be on different teams?

[color=snow]“Hey, you’re on the same team as Katie!”[/color] Evan offered brightly.

[color=skyblue]“...and the roommate who ran out of our room screaming,”[/color] Cherub noted. 

The most popular girl in school. The boy that wings had possibly tried to kill while Cherub was asleep. A couple of teenagers. This was shaping up well. It almost sounded like a Mojo reality TV series. [i]Westchester Shore[/i] maybe. Katie “Energizer” Power. Bobby “the Iceman” Drake. Sammy the Squidboy. And... what was the other girl’s name?

From the assembly, the students broke into morning classes. It was to be a normal school day. First English, then math. Then it was time for lunch. The second half of the day was where things were to get interesting. They were meeting their assigned mentors in their groups for the afternoon. It was kind of an extended PE session, he supposed. 

Some kids in the cafeteria had already changed into their black and gold training uniform.

He met Evan at the same table in the back as they’d shared at breakfast. Evan asked some more questions about Mojoworld before it was time to go change. 

Changing into the black and gold ensemble, the boy wrestled and wormed from side to side as he tried to get comfortable with the unfamiliar garment. His wings flexed several times as he tried to acclimate to the fit or feel.

Then, taking a deep breath, he stepped out to meet the team.[/color][/indent]