[hr][CENTER][sup][h1][center][img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FvO6PotXsAEgBG1?format=jpg&name=medium[/img][/center][b][center][color=black] T H E X - M E N[/color] [color=gold]T H E X - M E N[/color][/center] [/b][/h1][/sup] [color=silver][sup][i]"Protecting a world that hates and fears us since 2014."[/i][/sup][/color][hr][/center][i][quote=The Ten Stages of Genocide (Dr. Gregory H. Stanton)]Genocide is a process that develops in ten stages that are predictable but not inexorable. At each stage, preventive measures can stop it. The process is not linear. Stages may occur simultaneously. Logically, later stages must be preceded by earlier stages. But all stages continue to operate throughout the process.[/quote][/i][hr][indent][sub][COLOR=gold][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] Larroca and Milligan's Deli and Grocery - Brooklyn, NY[/sub][/indent][hr][center][img]https://the-artifice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Mutant-and-Protest-700x251.jpg[/img][/center][h3][color=ed1c24]"Mutants go home! Mutants go home!"[/color][/h3] Roxy Washington stepped into the bodega with urgency, her hood pulled down over her head, her hands deep in her pockets. The bigots were out in full force today, she noted; these days you couldn't go even a few days without seeing some form of anti-mutant demonstration, but this used to be a safe neighbourhood for people like her, or so she had thought. Either that or she'd just been well sheltered. [color=ed1c24]"Mutants go home! Mutants go home!"[/color] Roxy was a mutant. She was born with hard, diamond-like crystalline skin. She was used to the stares and the snide comments behind her back, but this was different. The anti-mutant element of the city had been whipped up into a frenzy. In real terms, it was getting harder for everyone, but especially for the unlucky ones like her. The ones who couldn't turn their "gifts" off if things got a bit too heated. [color=ed1c24]"Mutants go home! Mutants go home!"[/color] [i]"In and out, then back home."[/i] she thought to herself. [i]"Just the essentials."[/i] Roxy navigated the narrow aisles, carefully running through the items on her shopping list. As she bent down to reach for a can of soup, she felt that familiar stare. Coming from behind. She checked her hood was down and took a quick glance. At the rear end of the shop was a man, not much older than herself. His blonde hair and beard were unkempt, his clothes ill-fitting and he had an expression that made her feel uneasy. She carried on, trying to ignore him as she went about her business, but the unease lingered like a cloud, consuming all her thoughts. [color=ed1c24]"Mutants go home! Mutants go home!"[/color] [i]"I'm trying..."[/i] she sighed to herself. Attempting to quell her growing unease, Roxy focused on completing her grocery list. However, she couldn't ignore the knot forming in her stomach. As she approached the counter, she couldn't help but steal a final glance at the man behind her. She held her breath as he started to move, her heart punching bullet holes in her chest. It felt like minutes, but within a few seconds the man was at the door. The familiar [i]ding[/i] of the bell rang sharply as the door slid open. A flicker of calm. [color=gray]"Cash or credit?"[/color] Roxy looked back towards the counter, brought back to reality and grabbed her purse. [hr] [i]Dammit.[/i] [color=FF0000]"I thought you freaks had worked out you weren't welcome here!"[/color] Sure enough, Roxy's instincts had been right. The man was waiting outside as soon as she left, with a gang of his friends. [i]She couldn't manage one trip out this week without there being something?[/i], she thought. She carried on moving with speed in her step. [color=6ecff6]"I'm not looking for trouble. I'm just going home."[/color] [color=FF3333]"They not have [i]food[/i] at mutant school?"[/color], one of the gang chimed in. [color=FF3333]"You've got to come down here an' take ours?"[/color] [color=FF6666]"I bet it didn't pay for it either..."[/color] [color=FF0000]"That true Mutie? Come on, I'm talking to you!"[/color] Roxy quickened her pace, her groceries clutched to her chest. She turned a corner, heading down another street. [color=FF9999]"I think it's ignoring you"[/color], a fourth voice remarked. [color=FF0000]"They not teach manners in those sewers of yours, freak?"[/color] The man picked up a loose cobble from the floor and took aim. It glanced her leg. She ran. They met her speed in kind. [color=FF3333]"He's talking to you, freak!"[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Leave me alone!"[/color], Roxy panted, crystal tears filled her eyes. She turned down another street. The thugs closed in. Cornered. Her groceries slipped from her grasp as two of the group pinned her to the wall. [color=6ecff6]"I'm going home. What more do you people want?"[/color] Roxy cried out in desperation. [color=FF0000]"You people? The hell is that supposed to mean, mutie?"[/color] The one replied. [color=FF6666]"Show her what we do to freaks in this neighbourhood, Tom!"[/color] Another retorts. The blonde, Tom cracked his knuckles and dropped his backpack to the floor. He unzipped it, and removed a long club, chain wrapped around the hilt. He brandished it threateningly before walking towards her. However, he is interrupted by a voice from behind, and a tap on his shoulder. [color=9400D3]"Is there really nothing better you could be doing with your time, mein Freund?" [/color] The thug slowly moved his gaze to his shoulder, where to his shock he saw a dark blue tail, ending in a point. He goes to scream but nothing comes out. [color=9400D3][h3][i][b]BAMF![/b][/i][/h3][/color] In a moment the man is gone, replaced by a dark cloud of smoke. [color=9400D3]"You might want to run, [i]ja?[/i]..."[/color] ([b]TO BE CONTINUED[/b])