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ax_communication2018-03-31 12:14 pm
ax_swift) wrote in ax_communication2018-03-31 12:14 pm
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Kurt and Shen interviews - At the rally
"This is Trish Tilby, reporting live from Central Park, where a group of young mutants is holding a rally. I'm here with the rally's organizers, Kurt Wegner and Li-Men Shen. Tell me, do you support the recent mutant terrorist acts against the headquarters of a peaceful human-rights organization?"
The camera pans out to reveal a young, short-haired Asian female mutant with brown wings, and a young, blue, yellow-eyed, pointy-eared male mutant. The winged mutant shares a look with the blue one, then says, with a smile, "It's Kurt Wagner and Shen Li-Men, Ms. Trilby. And no, we don't support terrorists. All our thoughts go to the families of the victims. What happened was a tragedy. But we also don't support the organization they attacked, or believe they're either peaceful or about human rights. Mutants are humans too.”
Kurt smiles and it’s surprisingly charming given the fanged canines that come with it. “That is what we are out here to show. As different as some of us may look, we’re really no different than anyone else.”
"Really? Your fellow mutant said otherwise in his TV appearance," Trish points out, giving the pair a doubtful look.
“Well, what do you know?" Shen's smile doesn’t quite look genuine. "Not all mutants think alike.”
Kurt’s smile stays friendly. “He speaks for all mutants no more than you do all reporters.”
"The difference being that all reporters aren't announcing themselves as a new race and proclaiming their intentions to take over - but as you say, he doesn't speak for you." Her tone is somewhat doubtful, but she smiles brightly as she changes tracks. "Are all the people here today mutants?"
"I don't know." Shen turns a politely curious gaze on Trish. "Are you?" Her expression fades as she shakes her head. "All the people here today are here to fight for mutant rights. A lot of non-mutant humans realize that it's an important fight.”
Kurt nods. “We wanted to show people what mutants and mutant-supporters looked like. Everyone here is someone’s friend or relative.”
"Mutants and their allies," Shen confirms with a nod.
“Most of us,” Kurt gestures to the gathering, “are just kids.”
"So were the individuals," a slight emphasis on the final word suggests that Trish doubts that the mutants were there as part of anything other than an organized group, "who interrupted the rally here last year, and did substantial damage. How do you respond to people who question whether or not mutants are a threat to normal humans?"
"I point out that non-mutant humans are a threat to humans," Shen replies, without missing a beat. "Some mutants have powers that scare people. Some non-mutants have guns. Some have knives. Some don't actually need either of those to hurt others. Mutant rights - human rights - will be in jeopardy as long as mutants are considered as one entity, instead of as individuals." She smiles, all cute teenage girl. "Kurt and I aren't a threat to anyone.”
Kurt nods. “We just want what anyone wants—To be judged for who we are, not for what we look like, or who we love, or whatever our genetic make-up might be.”
Shen gives him a bright, extremely affectionate smile at his words.
"Thank you for your time," Trish said, her expression considerably less cheerful as she turned back to the camera. "So, in the wake of the Montana disaster, a fresh hope in a pair of idealistic teens. Back to you, Tom."
* * *
"Okay, kids, we're gonna keep this casual," Tom Amos began. He pulled out a pad of paper and a digital recorder, and smiled warmly as he looked over at the two youngsters. "You mind if I record, just for accuracy's sake? I'm getting too old to remember the best quotes without it."
Shen shook her head. "Go for it.”
"Great." He thumbed the power on, and set it down on the picnic table beside them. "First off, I think everyone would like to know what you're looking to accomplish with your rally here today?"
“We just wanted to show people who mutants are,” Kurt answered. “We all look different and think different.”
Shen nodded. "Because we're just human. Like everybody else.”
Tom nodded understanding. "So what're you thinking?”
"Well," Shen shared a look with Kurt, and looked back to Tom. "We're very thankful for the mutants who've paved the way before us. But we didn't just want to show people we were regular kids. We also wanted to show other mutant kids that there were people out there like them. That not all of us are wealthy, famous white boys, and that you don't have to have those privileges to be okay with who you are. Mutants really are as diverse as the rest of humanity, and it's a good thing.”
"The rest of humanity," Tom echoed. "I take that to mean you're not on board with the guy on TV a couple of months ago?”
Kurt’s expression became a little more serious. “Not at all. We believe everyone can live together peacefully. It is both our times, not just non-mutants and definitely not just ours.”
"We're definitely not on board with anything to do with the Brotherhood," Shen confirmed, looking equally grave. "And we don't believe we're better than anyone else. We're just different - and just as human.”
"And everyone else here feels the same way?" A trace of doubt snuck into Tom's voice. They seemed like nice kids (a hell of a lot better mannered than his grandkids, that was for sure, though his wife'd kill him for saying it), but people were people. It was hard to believe that everyone present felt the same way about anything.
Kurt grinned. “Of course!” He chuckled and his smile became a little wry. “Well, everyone standing on our side of the line. I cannot speak for the people on the other side.”
"And just what kind of rights are you talking about?" Ben asked.
“The same as everyone else has,” Kurt replied.
"Some people out there are advocating for restrictions to be put on our rights," Shen confirmed with a nod. "But this is America. We can't let that happen here. We stand for freedom. And that's without counting the fact that mutants everywhere are already experiencing discrimination, so we need anti-discrimination legislation."
Ben nodded as he jotted a few notes, just to jar his memory. "Sounds like you've given this a lot of thought.”
Kurt nodded, glancing over at Shen. “We have. We had to, really. We do not have the luxury of not giving it any thought when it could affect us as much as it could.” He paused a moment, hesitating, then said, “I… Honestly, I have been dreaming of this day—of not having to hide anymore—my whole life. And I wanted to do it right.”
"I've had it a whole lot easier than Kurt," Shen stated with a small smile. "I've only had wings for a year. I can't imagine having to hide my whole life, and we want to make sure nobody has to anymore."
"Understandable." Ben looked first at Kurt, then at Shen. "Off the record - you've got some way to keep safe after this, right? Because you're taking an awfully big risk, kids. Not saying you're doing the wrong thing, because I think you've got a lot of guts and my article's gonna show that, but still. I'll sleep better tonight if I know you've got some kind of plan."
“We do,” Kurt promised, touched by Ben’s concern. “We have taken precautions.”
"We might be teenagers, but we're not irresponsible," Shen promised him, then smiled a little. "Well. Not completely irresponsible."
Ben chuckled. "Glad you clarified that - if you'd stuck to your original story there, I'd have had doubts. Let me ask you this - other than what we've talked about, what else would you like to put out there for our readers to know? And can you just tell me a little about yourselves?"
This was something Kurt had given a lot of thought and had been looking forward to talking about. He took a deep, mental breath and said, “I would like them to know that being a mutant is not the end of anything. I have been this handsome my whole life, and, while I have until recently maybe missed out on some things, I am here and I am thriving. If you find out you are a mutant, do not be afraid. You are not alone. We are out here, and we are with you.”
"Yeah, communities are popping up online, please reach out," Shen confirmed with a nod. "It's especially important to us to show that not all mutants are super handsome white boys. I mean," and she pointed at Kurt with a smile, "super handsome blue boy, right? So yeah, no matter who you are, or where you live, you're totally not alone. And if you're the parents of a mutant - we get that it can be scary. I totally freaked out when my wings started growing. But - they're your child, and it's gonna be all right. Just be supportive. Be safe, and be supportive."
"What do you think is the biggest single challenge mutant teens face right now?" Ben asked.
“Apart from the people protesting that they are monsters?” Kurt asked.
"And the ones killing their parents?" Shen went on.
"I'd say including those, actually," Ben clarified.
“It is those, then,” Kurt replied, then grinned. “And acne.”
"And heartache, and how to get that annoying grade from that last test back up," Shen went on, smiling.
"So, all the hazards of being a teenager, with added pressure." Ben nodded slowly, then offered them both a smile as he closed his notebook and reached towards his recorder. "Anything else you'd like the readers to know?" he asked rather than turn it off just yet.
Kurt smiled. “I love my family, my favorite movie is Captain Blood and I am here to stay.”
Shen laughed. "I love this guy," with a jerk of her thumb at Kurt, "I wish you could all know what flying was like, and - I'm not going anywhere either."
The camera pans out to reveal a young, short-haired Asian female mutant with brown wings, and a young, blue, yellow-eyed, pointy-eared male mutant. The winged mutant shares a look with the blue one, then says, with a smile, "It's Kurt Wagner and Shen Li-Men, Ms. Trilby. And no, we don't support terrorists. All our thoughts go to the families of the victims. What happened was a tragedy. But we also don't support the organization they attacked, or believe they're either peaceful or about human rights. Mutants are humans too.”
Kurt smiles and it’s surprisingly charming given the fanged canines that come with it. “That is what we are out here to show. As different as some of us may look, we’re really no different than anyone else.”
"Really? Your fellow mutant said otherwise in his TV appearance," Trish points out, giving the pair a doubtful look.
“Well, what do you know?" Shen's smile doesn’t quite look genuine. "Not all mutants think alike.”
Kurt’s smile stays friendly. “He speaks for all mutants no more than you do all reporters.”
"The difference being that all reporters aren't announcing themselves as a new race and proclaiming their intentions to take over - but as you say, he doesn't speak for you." Her tone is somewhat doubtful, but she smiles brightly as she changes tracks. "Are all the people here today mutants?"
"I don't know." Shen turns a politely curious gaze on Trish. "Are you?" Her expression fades as she shakes her head. "All the people here today are here to fight for mutant rights. A lot of non-mutant humans realize that it's an important fight.”
Kurt nods. “We wanted to show people what mutants and mutant-supporters looked like. Everyone here is someone’s friend or relative.”
"Mutants and their allies," Shen confirms with a nod.
“Most of us,” Kurt gestures to the gathering, “are just kids.”
"So were the individuals," a slight emphasis on the final word suggests that Trish doubts that the mutants were there as part of anything other than an organized group, "who interrupted the rally here last year, and did substantial damage. How do you respond to people who question whether or not mutants are a threat to normal humans?"
"I point out that non-mutant humans are a threat to humans," Shen replies, without missing a beat. "Some mutants have powers that scare people. Some non-mutants have guns. Some have knives. Some don't actually need either of those to hurt others. Mutant rights - human rights - will be in jeopardy as long as mutants are considered as one entity, instead of as individuals." She smiles, all cute teenage girl. "Kurt and I aren't a threat to anyone.”
Kurt nods. “We just want what anyone wants—To be judged for who we are, not for what we look like, or who we love, or whatever our genetic make-up might be.”
Shen gives him a bright, extremely affectionate smile at his words.
"Thank you for your time," Trish said, her expression considerably less cheerful as she turned back to the camera. "So, in the wake of the Montana disaster, a fresh hope in a pair of idealistic teens. Back to you, Tom."
"Okay, kids, we're gonna keep this casual," Tom Amos began. He pulled out a pad of paper and a digital recorder, and smiled warmly as he looked over at the two youngsters. "You mind if I record, just for accuracy's sake? I'm getting too old to remember the best quotes without it."
Shen shook her head. "Go for it.”
"Great." He thumbed the power on, and set it down on the picnic table beside them. "First off, I think everyone would like to know what you're looking to accomplish with your rally here today?"
“We just wanted to show people who mutants are,” Kurt answered. “We all look different and think different.”
Shen nodded. "Because we're just human. Like everybody else.”
Tom nodded understanding. "So what're you thinking?”
"Well," Shen shared a look with Kurt, and looked back to Tom. "We're very thankful for the mutants who've paved the way before us. But we didn't just want to show people we were regular kids. We also wanted to show other mutant kids that there were people out there like them. That not all of us are wealthy, famous white boys, and that you don't have to have those privileges to be okay with who you are. Mutants really are as diverse as the rest of humanity, and it's a good thing.”
"The rest of humanity," Tom echoed. "I take that to mean you're not on board with the guy on TV a couple of months ago?”
Kurt’s expression became a little more serious. “Not at all. We believe everyone can live together peacefully. It is both our times, not just non-mutants and definitely not just ours.”
"We're definitely not on board with anything to do with the Brotherhood," Shen confirmed, looking equally grave. "And we don't believe we're better than anyone else. We're just different - and just as human.”
"And everyone else here feels the same way?" A trace of doubt snuck into Tom's voice. They seemed like nice kids (a hell of a lot better mannered than his grandkids, that was for sure, though his wife'd kill him for saying it), but people were people. It was hard to believe that everyone present felt the same way about anything.
Kurt grinned. “Of course!” He chuckled and his smile became a little wry. “Well, everyone standing on our side of the line. I cannot speak for the people on the other side.”
"And just what kind of rights are you talking about?" Ben asked.
“The same as everyone else has,” Kurt replied.
"Some people out there are advocating for restrictions to be put on our rights," Shen confirmed with a nod. "But this is America. We can't let that happen here. We stand for freedom. And that's without counting the fact that mutants everywhere are already experiencing discrimination, so we need anti-discrimination legislation."
Ben nodded as he jotted a few notes, just to jar his memory. "Sounds like you've given this a lot of thought.”
Kurt nodded, glancing over at Shen. “We have. We had to, really. We do not have the luxury of not giving it any thought when it could affect us as much as it could.” He paused a moment, hesitating, then said, “I… Honestly, I have been dreaming of this day—of not having to hide anymore—my whole life. And I wanted to do it right.”
"I've had it a whole lot easier than Kurt," Shen stated with a small smile. "I've only had wings for a year. I can't imagine having to hide my whole life, and we want to make sure nobody has to anymore."
"Understandable." Ben looked first at Kurt, then at Shen. "Off the record - you've got some way to keep safe after this, right? Because you're taking an awfully big risk, kids. Not saying you're doing the wrong thing, because I think you've got a lot of guts and my article's gonna show that, but still. I'll sleep better tonight if I know you've got some kind of plan."
“We do,” Kurt promised, touched by Ben’s concern. “We have taken precautions.”
"We might be teenagers, but we're not irresponsible," Shen promised him, then smiled a little. "Well. Not completely irresponsible."
Ben chuckled. "Glad you clarified that - if you'd stuck to your original story there, I'd have had doubts. Let me ask you this - other than what we've talked about, what else would you like to put out there for our readers to know? And can you just tell me a little about yourselves?"
This was something Kurt had given a lot of thought and had been looking forward to talking about. He took a deep, mental breath and said, “I would like them to know that being a mutant is not the end of anything. I have been this handsome my whole life, and, while I have until recently maybe missed out on some things, I am here and I am thriving. If you find out you are a mutant, do not be afraid. You are not alone. We are out here, and we are with you.”
"Yeah, communities are popping up online, please reach out," Shen confirmed with a nod. "It's especially important to us to show that not all mutants are super handsome white boys. I mean," and she pointed at Kurt with a smile, "super handsome blue boy, right? So yeah, no matter who you are, or where you live, you're totally not alone. And if you're the parents of a mutant - we get that it can be scary. I totally freaked out when my wings started growing. But - they're your child, and it's gonna be all right. Just be supportive. Be safe, and be supportive."
"What do you think is the biggest single challenge mutant teens face right now?" Ben asked.
“Apart from the people protesting that they are monsters?” Kurt asked.
"And the ones killing their parents?" Shen went on.
"I'd say including those, actually," Ben clarified.
“It is those, then,” Kurt replied, then grinned. “And acne.”
"And heartache, and how to get that annoying grade from that last test back up," Shen went on, smiling.
"So, all the hazards of being a teenager, with added pressure." Ben nodded slowly, then offered them both a smile as he closed his notebook and reached towards his recorder. "Anything else you'd like the readers to know?" he asked rather than turn it off just yet.
Kurt smiled. “I love my family, my favorite movie is Captain Blood and I am here to stay.”
Shen laughed. "I love this guy," with a jerk of her thumb at Kurt, "I wish you could all know what flying was like, and - I'm not going anywhere either."
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