20 Years of X-Project - Sam
May. 8th, 2023 11:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_daytripper posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
x_projectSam joined the XP crew in 2012 with Angelica Jones/Firestar (who had the shortest ever time between players, 2 weeks) and then Topaz the same year. They took on a Phase 2 version of Alex Summers/Havok in 2015 and returned Angelica to the wild in 2018. They are also a mod.
1) 1) What brought you to X-Project?
A random Google search during my X-Men fanfiction era (it didn't last long). It was something hyper-specific that doesn't actually exist in canon (I think someone's birthday?) so the XP wiki fooled me for a minute into thinking it was actual comic content. But then I kept reading, and it had been so long since I'd been part of any kind of roleplay, and I kind of missed it. (I also kind of thought I wouldn't get in XD)
2) What keeps you in X-Project?
The people, for sure. Writing with others is so much fun, and I've made so many good friends here over the years, I can't imagine leaving. I can write anywhere, but finding good people to write with and who are also awesome is rare. And I honestly can't imagine where I'd be without the people I met here
3) What's a moment that has really stuck with you that you wrote?
Alex - Definitely him and Scott reuniting. It was early on, but it was a great moment. I always love writing big emotions, and those were some big emotions.
That was a very unhappy look. Not that Alex couldn't relate, he wasn't too pleased with Lorna himself in that moment. But he was pretty sure he had a reason - what was Scott's excuse? "Alright, I think." He shrugged his shoulders a bit, wincing as he twisted. "Stiff. Sore. Done worse to myself though." Okay that was debatable. He was pretty sure his worse wipe out hadn't been as bad as this. But it was close.
Scott's eyebrows rose somewhere in the vicinity of his hairline, "What exactly have you been doing to yourself?" He asked in amazement, "Doesn't sound like you've lead the safest of lifestyles uptil now," Although he really wasn't one to talk was he.
Alex grinned a bit despite himself. "A little bit of everything. Biking, skateboarding, surfing, all that."
Scott smirked, "So you're basically an adrenaline junkie then?"
The younger man's grin widened a bit. "Worse kinds of junkie to be, right?"
Scott laughed, "I guess, still make your family go through it when you wind up telling them about it though. Especially if you go into graphic details, which after all you must."
Alex actually laughed. "Yeah, my poor moms had multiple heart attacks over the way I'd come home sometimes. Bloody and ripped it up, they hated it." He paused for a moment before saying off-handedly, "Ya know, I used to have a brother named Scott. Guess I still do. Maybe. I haven't seen him in years."
"That is kinda funny," Scott replied leaning back in his chair his heart almost beating out of his chest, this was the moment the. "it just so happens that I used to have a little brother called Alex too. I guess I never really introduced myself," Scott was torn between laughing and running out of the room, though he settled for desperately trying not to smile, "My name is Scott Summers."
Any comment Alex was about to make about wild coincidences died in his throat when the man said his full name. Scott Summers. No...it wasn't. It couldn't be. Right? That was impossible. Right? "Yeah?" He managed to say after a moment, failing to infuse any humor into his tone. He wanted to make a joke about coincidences, but nothing was coming.
"Scott?" His voice was small.
"Hey there little brother," Scott couldn't help himself now and a smile had almost split his face in two, "It's been a while hasn't it."
A slow, uncertain but no less ecstatic grin pulled at Alex's face. "Nah, just twenty years. That's nothing."
"Barely anything really," Scott agreed, "It's not like there are people within 10 meters of here that haven't even lived that long."
Topaz - Stepping up and taking charge of things during Colors of Horror. I've spent so long writing her being a follower that writing her as a leader was a huge change, and I was so proud of her.
Topaz dove to grab another puppet, ramming a ball of magic into its head to make it drop what it was trying to take. They were fighting, but they weren’t winning, and at this rate the monsters would get away with things. She couldn’t let that happen.
She slid her hand into her pocket, pulling out the small alarm ball, and slammed it into the ground. It shattered, setting off a god awful shrieking sound that would reach every single person and let them know to get out now.
The monsters withered for a moment, surprised and stunned by the noise, giving everyone a head start. Topaz threw up a shield of her own, trying to cover as much as possible as she backed up, looking behind her to make sure everyone was out. More beasts were swarming her defenses, forcing her back. But the others were safe. She backed up a few more steps before abruptly bringing her hands down; the shield dissolved into a wave of energy that swept through the gathering monsters before pulling back to surround her in a bright, glowing purple light. She was close enough to the door. She could do this.
I’m sorry, she thought regretfully. Somehow, she knew Avalon understood.
The energy around her branched out, finding every crack and crevice it could and seeping in. Topaz stumbled as she tried to take another step back. The door was right there, if she could just-
One of the shadow monsters made one last attempt at diving forward, aiming for Topaz. She ducked, sweeping a hand up to throw it aside, but the distraction was enough - the unstable ground gave way, and Topaz went with it, letting out a small shriek as she tumbled down…
A multiverse and five feet away, the door to Avalon slammed shut.
The slam of a door followed by a drop in sound and sudden stillness in the air around them had Darcy coming to a wincing, abrupt stop, hand tightening around Doug's almost painfully. The muffled thumps against the side door had ceased, but so had the shrieking of the alarm and the muted, hypnotic humming that'd been echoing since Halloween night. "We need to get back to the others faster, c'mon, my knee will be fine."
Something in the stillness raised the hairs on the back of Doug's neck. It didn't feel like a respite, there was a wrongness that simultaneously desperate to know what was happening and afraid of the answers he would get. His own hand grasped Darcy's just as painfully tight, and he tugged her into an even faster run toward the others.
"No!" The cry was a gasp as Wanda saw the door slam shut, as she caught a glimpse of Topaz beyond that just seconds prior. She launched herself forward, hands crackling with entropic energy as she sought the shatterpoint. There was none. There was no breaking point for the door back to Avalon because there was no door. Which meant there was no way to get to Topaz...
Wanda slammed her hands against the wall a final time and took a step back, breathing hard, hands held in shaking fists. The temptation to rend an opening, any opening, burned like fire.
"Where's Topaz?" Amanda came forward from the back of the group where she'd - reluctantly, but also wanting to make amends for prior issues - had obeyed her former student's order to fall back and protect those fleeing the chaos. Blood dripped from a cut on her forehead, there were a number of cuts in her leather jacket and she was wobbling on her feet with exhaustion, but still she came forward, conducting the mental headcount that came at the end of every mission. "She was right behind you, she should... Wanda, what happened?"
4) What's a moment that has really stuck with you that someone else wrote?
Death scenes during Dark Phoenix, but especially the students. They were so hard to read and so well written.
Lorna and Warren confrontation during Morningstar.
Amanda, MA, and Doug log after Colors of Horror.
All the Garrison moments after he came back from the Brotherhood (including the journal conflict)
Laurie's defection and the aftermath.
There's a lot, I can't pick one. So many talented people <3
"All three of us would give without question for Topaz." It wasn't really a question, but he looked at the two women anyway and saw agreement in their eyes. "And all three of us would give without question to protect the other two people in this room." His eyes lingered on the eyepatch on Marie-Ange, and the very faded bits of scarring on Amanda. "But we just got back from a mission where it was pointed out that none of us gets to make that decision unilaterally for other people." Again, he made sure the reminder of Topaz' words to Amanda was delivered as gently as he could manage. "And that includes our peers as much as the younger set."
"So. How about if, instead of playing self-sacrifice roulette we stop, figure out what is actually required, and -then- talk about how we can do that in a way that lets us share the load and support each other."
Look at that, using his words. Almost like therapy was helping or something.
"Your knuckle is jammed." Marie-Ange finished bandaging Amanda's worst injuries and took Doug's hand. A firm grip and a single yank pulled the joint back into place. "Still the infirmary for you after." It was a conceit to Doug being the reasonable one this time. "First we tell the rest of X-Force. They may have additional ideas, and then yes, we figure out what I will need to get some kind of better answer than a perhaps. In the meantime, I can keep making sure we have the option. As long as Topaz still comes up having a future, we know we should still keep looking for more answers. That I can do, it is like... unlocking the door but not opening the gate."
Amanda blinked. “Unlocking the door…” she murmured. “Unlocking the door… But how does she find the door in the dark? We turn on the porch light, of course.” The vagueness had left her face and despite the cryptic words, she seemed far more with it than she had since Doug had pulled her away from the chapel wall. “You’re a genius, Frenchie,” she continued, before grabbing Marie-Ange’s face and planting an enthusiastic kiss on her. “I need to go round up the ducklings. I think I have an idea that will help.”
Marie-Ange could only blink for a moment, and automatically kissed back - and then, finally, managed to compose herself. "I love being accidentally a genius but please elaborate? I am done with missing people I cannot help. I can help this time." She turned, scooped up the deck of cards and flipped half one-handed. "Not just with these, but I can get information this time. Topaz has a future.”
Something flickered across Amanda’s face, drowning out the joy for just a second, before it was gone as soon as it had come. “She does. She has a future.” She grinned again. “And we’re going to leave a light on for her to come home.”
(read the full log here)
5) What is something about X-Project that you really like/enjoy?
Sorry about the repeat answer, but it's definitely the people again. Anyone can start an RP game, but it takes really special people to keep it going, and there are a lot of really special people here, or have been here over the years. It's such a great and welcoming place, and I'm proud to have been part of it for so long <3
1) 1) What brought you to X-Project?
A random Google search during my X-Men fanfiction era (it didn't last long). It was something hyper-specific that doesn't actually exist in canon (I think someone's birthday?) so the XP wiki fooled me for a minute into thinking it was actual comic content. But then I kept reading, and it had been so long since I'd been part of any kind of roleplay, and I kind of missed it. (I also kind of thought I wouldn't get in XD)
2) What keeps you in X-Project?
The people, for sure. Writing with others is so much fun, and I've made so many good friends here over the years, I can't imagine leaving. I can write anywhere, but finding good people to write with and who are also awesome is rare. And I honestly can't imagine where I'd be without the people I met here
3) What's a moment that has really stuck with you that you wrote?
Alex - Definitely him and Scott reuniting. It was early on, but it was a great moment. I always love writing big emotions, and those were some big emotions.
That was a very unhappy look. Not that Alex couldn't relate, he wasn't too pleased with Lorna himself in that moment. But he was pretty sure he had a reason - what was Scott's excuse? "Alright, I think." He shrugged his shoulders a bit, wincing as he twisted. "Stiff. Sore. Done worse to myself though." Okay that was debatable. He was pretty sure his worse wipe out hadn't been as bad as this. But it was close.
Scott's eyebrows rose somewhere in the vicinity of his hairline, "What exactly have you been doing to yourself?" He asked in amazement, "Doesn't sound like you've lead the safest of lifestyles uptil now," Although he really wasn't one to talk was he.
Alex grinned a bit despite himself. "A little bit of everything. Biking, skateboarding, surfing, all that."
Scott smirked, "So you're basically an adrenaline junkie then?"
The younger man's grin widened a bit. "Worse kinds of junkie to be, right?"
Scott laughed, "I guess, still make your family go through it when you wind up telling them about it though. Especially if you go into graphic details, which after all you must."
Alex actually laughed. "Yeah, my poor moms had multiple heart attacks over the way I'd come home sometimes. Bloody and ripped it up, they hated it." He paused for a moment before saying off-handedly, "Ya know, I used to have a brother named Scott. Guess I still do. Maybe. I haven't seen him in years."
"That is kinda funny," Scott replied leaning back in his chair his heart almost beating out of his chest, this was the moment the. "it just so happens that I used to have a little brother called Alex too. I guess I never really introduced myself," Scott was torn between laughing and running out of the room, though he settled for desperately trying not to smile, "My name is Scott Summers."
Any comment Alex was about to make about wild coincidences died in his throat when the man said his full name. Scott Summers. No...it wasn't. It couldn't be. Right? That was impossible. Right? "Yeah?" He managed to say after a moment, failing to infuse any humor into his tone. He wanted to make a joke about coincidences, but nothing was coming.
"Scott?" His voice was small.
"Hey there little brother," Scott couldn't help himself now and a smile had almost split his face in two, "It's been a while hasn't it."
A slow, uncertain but no less ecstatic grin pulled at Alex's face. "Nah, just twenty years. That's nothing."
"Barely anything really," Scott agreed, "It's not like there are people within 10 meters of here that haven't even lived that long."
Topaz - Stepping up and taking charge of things during Colors of Horror. I've spent so long writing her being a follower that writing her as a leader was a huge change, and I was so proud of her.
Topaz dove to grab another puppet, ramming a ball of magic into its head to make it drop what it was trying to take. They were fighting, but they weren’t winning, and at this rate the monsters would get away with things. She couldn’t let that happen.
She slid her hand into her pocket, pulling out the small alarm ball, and slammed it into the ground. It shattered, setting off a god awful shrieking sound that would reach every single person and let them know to get out now.
The monsters withered for a moment, surprised and stunned by the noise, giving everyone a head start. Topaz threw up a shield of her own, trying to cover as much as possible as she backed up, looking behind her to make sure everyone was out. More beasts were swarming her defenses, forcing her back. But the others were safe. She backed up a few more steps before abruptly bringing her hands down; the shield dissolved into a wave of energy that swept through the gathering monsters before pulling back to surround her in a bright, glowing purple light. She was close enough to the door. She could do this.
I’m sorry, she thought regretfully. Somehow, she knew Avalon understood.
The energy around her branched out, finding every crack and crevice it could and seeping in. Topaz stumbled as she tried to take another step back. The door was right there, if she could just-
One of the shadow monsters made one last attempt at diving forward, aiming for Topaz. She ducked, sweeping a hand up to throw it aside, but the distraction was enough - the unstable ground gave way, and Topaz went with it, letting out a small shriek as she tumbled down…
A multiverse and five feet away, the door to Avalon slammed shut.
The slam of a door followed by a drop in sound and sudden stillness in the air around them had Darcy coming to a wincing, abrupt stop, hand tightening around Doug's almost painfully. The muffled thumps against the side door had ceased, but so had the shrieking of the alarm and the muted, hypnotic humming that'd been echoing since Halloween night. "We need to get back to the others faster, c'mon, my knee will be fine."
Something in the stillness raised the hairs on the back of Doug's neck. It didn't feel like a respite, there was a wrongness that simultaneously desperate to know what was happening and afraid of the answers he would get. His own hand grasped Darcy's just as painfully tight, and he tugged her into an even faster run toward the others.
"No!" The cry was a gasp as Wanda saw the door slam shut, as she caught a glimpse of Topaz beyond that just seconds prior. She launched herself forward, hands crackling with entropic energy as she sought the shatterpoint. There was none. There was no breaking point for the door back to Avalon because there was no door. Which meant there was no way to get to Topaz...
Wanda slammed her hands against the wall a final time and took a step back, breathing hard, hands held in shaking fists. The temptation to rend an opening, any opening, burned like fire.
"Where's Topaz?" Amanda came forward from the back of the group where she'd - reluctantly, but also wanting to make amends for prior issues - had obeyed her former student's order to fall back and protect those fleeing the chaos. Blood dripped from a cut on her forehead, there were a number of cuts in her leather jacket and she was wobbling on her feet with exhaustion, but still she came forward, conducting the mental headcount that came at the end of every mission. "She was right behind you, she should... Wanda, what happened?"
4) What's a moment that has really stuck with you that someone else wrote?
Death scenes during Dark Phoenix, but especially the students. They were so hard to read and so well written.
Lorna and Warren confrontation during Morningstar.
Amanda, MA, and Doug log after Colors of Horror.
All the Garrison moments after he came back from the Brotherhood (including the journal conflict)
Laurie's defection and the aftermath.
There's a lot, I can't pick one. So many talented people <3
"All three of us would give without question for Topaz." It wasn't really a question, but he looked at the two women anyway and saw agreement in their eyes. "And all three of us would give without question to protect the other two people in this room." His eyes lingered on the eyepatch on Marie-Ange, and the very faded bits of scarring on Amanda. "But we just got back from a mission where it was pointed out that none of us gets to make that decision unilaterally for other people." Again, he made sure the reminder of Topaz' words to Amanda was delivered as gently as he could manage. "And that includes our peers as much as the younger set."
"So. How about if, instead of playing self-sacrifice roulette we stop, figure out what is actually required, and -then- talk about how we can do that in a way that lets us share the load and support each other."
Look at that, using his words. Almost like therapy was helping or something.
"Your knuckle is jammed." Marie-Ange finished bandaging Amanda's worst injuries and took Doug's hand. A firm grip and a single yank pulled the joint back into place. "Still the infirmary for you after." It was a conceit to Doug being the reasonable one this time. "First we tell the rest of X-Force. They may have additional ideas, and then yes, we figure out what I will need to get some kind of better answer than a perhaps. In the meantime, I can keep making sure we have the option. As long as Topaz still comes up having a future, we know we should still keep looking for more answers. That I can do, it is like... unlocking the door but not opening the gate."
Amanda blinked. “Unlocking the door…” she murmured. “Unlocking the door… But how does she find the door in the dark? We turn on the porch light, of course.” The vagueness had left her face and despite the cryptic words, she seemed far more with it than she had since Doug had pulled her away from the chapel wall. “You’re a genius, Frenchie,” she continued, before grabbing Marie-Ange’s face and planting an enthusiastic kiss on her. “I need to go round up the ducklings. I think I have an idea that will help.”
Marie-Ange could only blink for a moment, and automatically kissed back - and then, finally, managed to compose herself. "I love being accidentally a genius but please elaborate? I am done with missing people I cannot help. I can help this time." She turned, scooped up the deck of cards and flipped half one-handed. "Not just with these, but I can get information this time. Topaz has a future.”
Something flickered across Amanda’s face, drowning out the joy for just a second, before it was gone as soon as it had come. “She does. She has a future.” She grinned again. “And we’re going to leave a light on for her to come home.”
(read the full log here)
5) What is something about X-Project that you really like/enjoy?
Sorry about the repeat answer, but it's definitely the people again. Anyone can start an RP game, but it takes really special people to keep it going, and there are a lot of really special people here, or have been here over the years. It's such a great and welcoming place, and I'm proud to have been part of it for so long <3
