Larping
by Lisea
Distribution: Reading is one thing, but
actually wanting it.......?
Homepage:
http://phoenix.fandomnation.com
Disclaimer: Not mine. Someone
else's.
Characters: Most of them
Notes: Lizzy's been playing
waaaaayy too much Diablo. :-)
Summary: The students of
Xavier's school find a new hobby: Live Action
RolePlaying!
Rating: PG-13
Special thanks to my beta reader,
Henrietta, who's put up with my Scott-rantings for the past year or
so.
Fanfic challenge: write a mainly S/J story in which the teachers of XSFTG relax and have fun with the students in a non-student/teacher type of way.
***
"God. How boring can surfing the Internet be?" St. John sighed, leaning back in his chair and avoiding looking at the viewscreen for a few seconds.
"Very boring, if One-Eye tells you where to go. Reading up on museums is even more boring than actually going to one" Rogue said. There was a series of affirmitive sounds and nods throughout the room.
"And who do we have to thank for all this?" Kitty said. The class looked at Bobby, who tried to hide behind his computer.
"How did I know that Mr. Summers was going to come through the door before I could melt the blackboard?"
"Why did you freeze it in the first place? You could've just told us what you thought he and Ms. Grey were doing last night!" St. John said, and stole giggles from the girls.
"With Mr. 'I-could-hear-a-pin-drop-a-mile-away' Summers? Sorry, Charlotte" he answered Charlotte's look with a grin. She really could hear a pin drop a mile away.
"But you have to admit, the sculpture was funny!" Rogue giggled.
"Thank you! See, some of us still have a sense of humor" Bobby said to John, "too bad Mr. Summers wasn't one of them. Hey, Jubes, watcha doin'?" He was sitting right behind her, so he could see her viewscreen.
"Yeah, you've been quiet for the past 10 minutes. I think you broke a new record" Kitty said.
"Huh? Oh. Hey guys, I just found something! Let's ask the professor if he'd let us start larping!"
"If he'd let us what? Have you been putting sugar in your coffee again?"
"Larping! You know, live action roleplaying. I just stumbled across this site that says how it's done." By now, the students had gathered around Jubilee's computer. "There's this bunch of people, right, and they're all given a role to play, right, and then they just, like, walk around in a forest, right, acting the play out. Only there's not script, right, and no audience, and they have to, like, improvise."
"Breathe. Remember to breathe" Rogue said, afraid that Jubes would pass out soon. She definately had had sugar in her coffee.
"You know, there's a computer for everyone" Scott said from the door. He was leaning against the doorjamb, smiling, his arms crossed across his chest. "I came to tell you that you can stop, but if you're that interested in national museums, I'm sure I could give you a few more hours to learn about them."
"Oh, give us a break, tight-ass!" Rogue said, rather loud, then covered her mouth with her cloved hand. "I'm sorry, Mr. Summers. Logan won't shut up."
Scott's smile grew a bit wider. "That's a universal rule about him, isn't it? Well, what did you find?"
Jubilee raised her hand. "Mr. Summers, can I ask you a non-museum type question?" At Scott's nod, she continued. "Do you think the professor would let us go larping in the woods?"
"You mean roleplaying? I think he would. Does this mean you didn't read up on museums?"
Jubilee gave him a sheepish grin. "I did the first fifteen minutes."
"What do you know about roleplaying?" John wanted to know, and so did the rest of the class.
"Neila told me about them. She used to play when she was in Europe. If you're really interested, go talk to her. Now, Bobby, would you like to open our conversation about national museums?"
***
Neila was new to the school. She wasn't a student, nor was she a teacher, altough she held a yoga class for anyone who was interested. She wasn't a mutant either, nor a normal human. She was a witch. Made no difference to the Friends of Humanity, though. The X-Men had come to get her when the FOH were trying to burn her at the stake. Xavier had heard about her from a contact. Hadn't held against her the lack of mutations, and let her stay at the school nevertheless.
Jean was jealous at first, as she thought Neila had a crush on Scott, but had come around when Neila sat her down for a talk. Neila had strong feelings for Scott, yes, as he was the one who had taken her down from the pyre and carried her to the jet since she had passed out from the smoke, but considered her feelings nothing more than "sisterly, protective love". She had assured Jean that she had nothing to worry about, that she would never make a move on Scott. They had become good friends since, if not close to sisters.
Neila was from Europe. All over Europe, in fact. Born in Romania, went to school in various places in Skandinavia, worked in France, England and Germany, spent her summers in Southern Europe... roleplaying, among other things. So that was why Rogue, Kitty, Jubilee, Bobby, St. John, and a few other kids were knocking at her door.
***
"I think it would be an excellent idea. It would give them a chance to learn creativity" Xavier told Scott right about the same time the kids and Neila were having a press conference of sorts upstairs.
"Sir, "them" means Jubilee, Kitty, Rogue, Bobby, Remy and John. If they get anymore creative, the mansion grounds will be a disaster area" Scott argued, altough he was starting to think roleplaying would be good for the kids.
"Why don't you join them? It will be perfect for the students and teachers to interact "off-duty", so to speak. Have you asked the others?" Xavier asked.
"Ororo said she'd be happy to play, so did Jean. Logan, surprisingly, is away right now, and no-one seems to know when he'll be back" Scott stopped himself before he could continue, but the professor caught the stray thought.
"I'm sure your motorcycle will be fine. And as for Logan, he said he'll back tomorrow morning."
***
So the next morning, they all gathered in the den, to pick their roles and start getting ready for the game. Scott had spent the previous evening with Neila in the cafeteria, thinking what characters they needed for the game. They had ended up with a scenario in the 15th century. The game had two teams of knights, and their goal was to posess a golden vase at the end of the game, three hours from the start. Ok, not really golden nor a vase, but a yellow-painted old halloween pumpkin. But whatever.
So there were two teams, red and blue one, with 6 members each. There were money in the forms of little wooden pieces painted either in gold or silver. There were magical scrolls for bringing up the dead should they fall in battle. Why? Because there was also an old witch in the game, who sold the magical scrolls. There were also bases (=big tents) for the two teams. They held a raffle to pick the teams and their respective captains.
The red team was Bobby (the captain), Scott (the captain's bodyguard), Rogue (the newbie soldier), Kitty (morale officer), Remy (the scout) and Charlotte (the money keeper).
The blue team was Jean (the captain), Storm (the captain's bodyguard), Jubilee (the scout), John (the money keeper), Kurt (morale officer) and Peter (the newbie soldier).
Every character had a short description for their role, and they were to play them the best they could.
Logan, who had come back just in time for the game and had agreed to play after Rogue asked him really nicely, ended up as the wandering oracle, who kept up on what was going on in the game and tipped the teams off whenever something was happening. That gave him a opportunity to smoke as many cigars as he wanted, as he wasn't constantly around the kids but he still had a good excuse to hang around Rogue.
And guess who was picked as the witch?
Scott built a shack for Neila, put a big (wooden) cauldron at the front of the shack, and a broom by the door, while she sewed capes and other clothing for the knights. Ororo took some of the kids looking for something that'll pass as the vase, and they found the pumpkin, painted it yellow and glued some christmas ornaments on it. Voil?.
At noon the next day, the game was ready to start, and the players were gathered at the basketball court. The Professor informed them of the rules, gave the teams their money (10 gold pieces and 5 silver ones each team), their weapons (little balls of red coloring they were supposed to throw at eachother when they fought. They were harmless, and if they hit your head or torso, consider yourself "dead"), the witch most of the money, plus the scrolls. Logan got the rest of the money, which he put in several little pouches. As he was considered neutral, as in at nobody's side, he was free to be robbed by the teams to get money. Just don't expect to get much tips if you robbed him.
"The vase you're set to retrieve isn't in the game area yet. It is to be hidden, and when it has, there will be a map scroll to be entered in the game. While you are searching for the map, you might get into fights with the opposing team. If you get injured or killed, you'll need money to buy the scrolls from the witch. Mutant powers are not allowed, as you are supposed to be 15th century humans, but obviously, the witch gets to keep hers. The winner team is the one that will bring the vase to my hands at the end of the game, three hours from now. You may begin, and have fun" Xavier said, and the two teams left the court, to get to their assigned bases in the woods. Neila left for her shack, and Logan opted for staying put and finishing a cigar before he moved a muscle.
***
12.15, The blue base
"Alright, people. We need to get some scrolls for healing from the witch. John, how many can we afford?" Jean asked, when they all sat in a circle in their tent. Both tents had been equipped with the prices for the witch's scrolls.
"Three scrolls for healing. If we buy them, we need four pieces of gold to get a resurrection scroll."
"Alright. We leave to see the witch. I'll see if I can cut a deal and get the scrolls for less money. Jubilee, you go with Storm ahead, see if there's any sign of the enemy. Let's move."
***
12.15, The red base
"I say we find the enemy, wound them as much we can while some of us go see the witch for the scrolls. Me, Mr. Summers and Remy will engage the enemy, while Kitty, Charlotte and Rogue go to the witch. Try to get as much information about the vase, bribe her if you have to. Let's move" Bobby said, after which the girls headed for the witch's shack, and the others for the blue team.
***
Bobby, Scott and Remy sneaked carefully behind the blue team. They were about to hit their backs with the colored balls when Jubilee warned them, and everyone took cover from trees, rocks, whatever they could find. Jean shouted for Jubilee to head for the witch's shack, as she was the furthest from the enemy, and closest to the shack. She took off running, a few balls were thrown from the red team, but none hit. Jean, however, had more luck.
"Ow! I'm hit!" Scott shouted mock-dramatically, and looked at his red-died shin.
"Serves you right, you brutal savage!" Jean shouted behind her rock. This should be fun. "Are you ready to surrender? You're outpowered!"
"Not this dark-age, missy. You want me, you come get me!"
"Scott, Remy, pull back! Let's get back to the base. We'll wait for the scrolls there. They're right, we're outpowered, there's no reason to fight them, since they don't have anything we can take. Jubilee's got their money, and she's outpowered. Let's hope our girls use that."
Bobby threw a few balls at the Blues, covering for Remy and Scott as they made their way back to the base. One of them hit Storm in the chest, and she fell down. Jean ran to her as soon as it was safe.
"She's dead! This will be revenged, I promise you!" Jean shouted at the retreating red team.
***
12.35, the shack
Kitty, Rogue and Charlotte were first at the shack.
"What are you seeking, friends?" Neila called from the door. Charlotte stepped forward.
"We have heard about a vase. Could you tell us about it?"
"Certainly. It's said to be somewhere in the northside of the great lake. The oracle has access to the map, he was given it by a wise man in a village nearby." Neila said, and was interrupted by Kitty.
"Someone's coming!" the three girls promptly hid behind trees, unnoticed by Jubilee.
"Can I help you?" Neila asked from Jubilee, who was catching her breath after running halfway aroud the lake.
"Yeah. I need a few healing scrolls."
"Come in, come in. How many?"
"Um, three. Could you give me a discount?" Jubilee asked.
"How much money have you got?"
"10 gold, 5 silver pieces. Three scrolls will make 9 gold and 6 silver, so that leaves me with 1 gold to spare but I'd need one more silver piece."
"Alright, I'm not unreasonable. I will give you three healing scrolls for 9 gold and 5 silver. Do you have any weapons? You should have one, it's dangerous to walk in this part of the forest without them."
"No, thanks. I'll need the money."
"Are you sure? I'll give you two balls for one gold. That's half price" Neila said as she was handing her the scrolls.
"Alright, I'll take two. Jean'll kill me for this, though."
"I would think she'd be grateful for bringing her more weaponry" Neila reasoned, took the pieces Jubilee offered her, and watched her leave the shack. And then her back turned red.
"Gotcha, sweetie!" Rogue called as Jubilee was dying with an effort.
"You... I trusted you (sniff), we grew up together (sniff), and you stab me in the back! How could you?!"
"I didn't stab you, I shot you in the back with a magic ball."
***
The three girls took the scrolls from Jubilee, and headed back to their camp. They didn't get far from their base when they were ambushed by the remaining members of the blue team.
"Give us the scrolls and we'll let you live" Jean said, as the girls were encircled by the blues.
"Why should we trust you?" Kitty said.
"You don't have a choice. Either you give up the scrolls voluntarily, or we'll fight, you'll lose and things'll be messy" Kurt said, and grabbed Rogue from behind, pressing a knife (a short stick) against her neck.
"Fine, keep the scrolls. Just don't kill me" Rogue squeked, playing the inexperienced soldier.
"Let her go and you'll get the scrolls" Charlotte said, handing out the scrolls. Kurt let her go, and when Rogue was back on the safe side, Charlotte ripped up the scrolls, to mark them unusable. "If we can't have them, neither can you."
"But we can have your money" Jean said, taking their money pouch. "Let's go back to see the witch. Let them go, except that one. We'll hold her hostage should the reds try something."
***
Meanwhile, witch's shack
"My dear, you're lucky. I'll use a resurrection scroll, you can stay with me as long as your friends pay for the scroll."
"Thanks. Guess I'm your prisoner now?" Jubilee shook the dirt of her clothes, then followed Neila back in the shack.
A few seconds later Neila noticed Logan standing outside.
"Well, if it isn't the Oracle? How've you been?"
"I see you got yourself a helper, little witch. Anything else new?"
"Not much. I'm keeping her here as long as I get the money for the scroll I used. What's been going on?"
"Storm died. Cyke got shot in the leg. Jeannie's a good shot" Logan said with an evil grin.
"I wish I'd seen that. Have you got the map yet?"
"What's it worth to you?" Logan leaned in closer. He knew she had most of the money, so he made clear she knew he wanted something else.
"Nothing, I'm afraid. I was just curious."
"Damn shame. Well, since I have to give it to you anyway..." Logan said, gave her the map, and started stalking off, litting a new cigar.
***
Red base, 13.00
"They took Char? Damn" Bobby said, and started to pace the tent. "We go to the witch, try to get a healing scroll for Mr. Summers. Let's keep an eye out for the Oracle, we'll take his money if we have to."
"We found this on our way back" Rogue said, and handed him some gold pieces Logan had apparently dropped by their way.
"3 golds. Not enough for healing" Remy said.
"Let's try to bargain" Bobby said, then the team headed once again for the shack.
***
To get to the blue base, they had to swing by the shack, picked up a resurrection scroll for Storm, traded Charlotte for Jubilee, and headed back to their camp. Things were looking good for the blue team.
The red team, however, was not that lucky. Charlotte was gone, as was their money. Scott was shot in the leg. After hearing about Rogue's comments about giving up, Bobby ordered her to stay at the base for the time the rest of them were at the shack. So only half of their team was operational.
***
The shack, 13.30
"What can I do for you?" Neila asked the red team, or rather what was left of it.
"We need a healing scroll, but we don't have any more money... Charlotte, what are you doing here?"
"The blues traded me for Jubes. She'll let me go once you pay for the res scroll she used on her" Char explained.
*I've given Logan the vase to be hidden. You can give the players the map* Neila heard the professor in her mind.
"Well, we only got this" Bobby said, giving her the gold.
"Interesting. I take it you'll need the healing scroll for him" Neila said, pointing at Scott. "I'll trade the gold for her."
"Why her?"
"Because he is much more valuable. The captain's bodyguard. It might be worth the map I have for the vase."
"It's a deal. Sorry, Mr. Summers" Bobby said with a sheepish smile.
"Go get the vase. I have some issues with the blue team's captain, so make sure you keep the it. We're going to win this" Scott said. Oh yes, he was going to make her pay for hitting his leg.
"How much will it cost to get him back?" Kitty asked.
"20 golds should do. I've heard the Oracle has that kind of money."
"Thanks for the tip" Bobby said. "See you later, Mr. Summers!"
***
Rogue was studying the forest outside the red base, when Jubilee approached her.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Rogue asked.
Jubilee held her two silver pieces. "I've come to get you on our side. You're losing, and you'd be better off on our side. So?"
Rogue looked at the silver pieces Jubilee were offering her. The reds were losing, and since she was to play the novice... "Okay."
"Great! I've missed you, chica!"
***
15 minutes later, Rogue was in the blue base, warmly welcomed in her new team.
"Well, you seem to be doing well" Logan said from the entrance of the tent.
"Why, thank you. Why don't you come in?" Jean asked him.
"No, thanks. I just came by to tell you that the witch knows about the map."
The team went silent for a few seconds. "Do you know where it's kept? Or how much it will cost us?"
"Not really, that's up to her to decide. You'd better go talk to her."
Jean came closer to him, pressed him up agaisnt a tree trunk and held a stick to his neck. "Since you're being so helpful, why don't you give up your money, too?"
Logan sighed. "And here I was hopin' you'd push me up against the tree for somethin' else" he said quietly, so no one but Jean had heard him. She turned a shade of red that even Scott's shades could've been jealous of.
***
Only an hour to go...
While the red team went around their side of the lake to find the vase, the blue team (minus Rogue and Jubilee, who were staying at the base) went to see the witch again. They now had the Oracle's money, 25 gold pieces, which the other team didn't know about, so they didn't worry much about getting robbed.
Neila was standing outside the shack when Jean's team came by. Jean saw Scott inside the shack. "What's he doing here?"
"I'm keeping him as collateral. The red team has the map, but they didn't have the money to pay for it. So they gave me him" Neila pointed at Scott, who had yet failed to notice them. "So I'll wait to get my 20 golds so I can get rid of him."
"If I give you 20 golds, does that mean I can keep him?" Jean asked, getting a strange look in her eyes.
"You pay me, and he's all yours."
So 20 golds were exchanged.
"Scott, you're free to go. I've been payed" Neila said. She almost laughed out loud when she saw the look on Scott's face.
"You sold me to them? To her?!" Scott asked her. Both Jean and Neila knew Scott wouldn't be upset for very long...
***
When the blue team got back to their base, they noticed that Rogue was gone, and Jubilee was sitting on the floor.
"Jubilee, where's Rogue?" Jean asked, while she yanked Scott to sit on the floor where she could keep an eye on him.
"Logan. He left you this" Jubilee said, and gave Jean a piece of paper. "He "knocked me out" and took Roguey."
Jean unfolded the paper. Watch who you steal from, Jeannie.
"What did you do to him?" Scott asked.
"I robbed him and bought you, hon" Jean said and kissed him gently.
***
Rogue was hoping they wouldn't bother rescuing her from Logan. Because he had his lips on her neck, his tongue going in small circles, tasting her, with only her thin scarf between them. Then he hauled her up on his shoulder, and took her inside the mansion and into his room. The game was over for the two of them, but they were soon to begin another one.
***
14.30 and an X marks the spot...
"Here! I found it!" Kitty held up the pumpkin. "This is their idea of a vase?!"
"The point is that we've got it, and we need to keep it for another half an hour, then we take it to the professor" Bobby said.
"Then we should get it somewhere the blues won't know to look. Maybe if we hide it again near the edge of the game area, near the mansion. Then we won't have to worry about loosing it between here and there" Remy said.
"Good idea. What are we gonna do about Mr. Summers?" Kitty asked.
"Maybe if we leave him there, he won't give us anymore Internet assignments" Remy suggested.
"Can the witch be robbed? What if we rob him back?"
"It's worth a shot. Especially when we have no choice" Bobby sighed, then turned to Remy. "You take the vase, and hide it near the mansion. We'll pick it up later."
***
And we're back at the witch's shack...
"Where's Mr. Summers?" Bobby asked Neila, who was standing next to the door with her broom.
"I'm afraid the other team has him now. There was nothing I could do."
"How do we get him back? Can you help us?"
"I'm afraid I don't hold any anger towards them, so I don't see a reason to act against them. I can sell you weapons, though, what you use them for is your business."
"You know we don't have any more money" Charlotte said.
"I'll trade them for the vase. You buy weapons, attack the blues, get their money, and buy the vase back."
"It's risky. We may not get their money" Bobby said to his team, which had gathered around him for a private meeting. "But we're running out of time."
And luck. Red balls flew through the air, hitting the ground around them. The red team took cover in the witch's shack.
"This is perfect. They have to come for us to get the vase, and if they do, we have a clear shot at them. And we've got all the weapons" Bobby pointed to an impressive storage of balls in the corner.
"I'm not giving them for free" Neila argued.
"They're shooting at you, too. Do you want them to stop or destroy your home?"
"Good point. Pass me some balls."
***
"Hey! You're not supposed to take sides, you witch!" Jean called out from behind her tree when Neila had thrown a ball at her tree.
"You started it! I'm just defending myself!"
"Besides, it's only fair! You got more people. What have you done with Mr. Summers?"
"Oh, he's right here. I'll be happy to trade him for the vase" Jean yelled, looking at Scott next to her.
"Don't listen to her!" Scott yelled to his team. Jean grabbed his shirt and pulled him to his knees. "Bad puppy."
"You're really getting into the game, aren't you?" Scott grinned.
"We're not trading him. You want the vase, you come get it!" Bobby yelled back at her, throwing some balls at the red team. John and Kurt got hit.
"We've got to get them out of the shack" Storm said.
"I know. Any ideas?"
"I've got one" Scott said, then grabbed Jean, pulled her against him, reached for a ball and shot Storm before she figured out what was happening. That left Jubilee and Peter.
"We're loosing!" Peter said, after ducking one of Scott's balls.
"Pull yourself together, man!" Jubilee said, threw a ball at Scott but instead hit Jean, who was Scott's human shield. "Whoops. Sorry, Ms. Grey!"
Scott got Jubilee and Peter wisely surrendered.
And then it was 15.00.
***
"Congratulations, Red team. You've won" Xavier said, as Bobby handed him the vase.
"They cheated" Jean said. Scott had his arm around her shoulders and he kissed her forehead.
"Sure, hon, whatever you say" he said grinning, for which Jean smacked his belly.
"You are going to hear about this tonight, mister!"
"You promise?"
Smack.
Scott chuckled. He knew she'd forgive him once he'd get her to their room.