Sylum Clan

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Sylum Clan

National Make a Difference Day

Today is Make a Difference Day

There are so many ways to make a difference.

Hold the door open.  Call up a friend to see how they are doing.  Support local community centers.  Give to Charity.  Make someone smile.  The list is endless.

In a world that at the moment seems filled with hate, anger, and blindness to one’s neighbor – I felt it was a good time to take this idea and use it on the blog.

So each month we’re going to showcase a charity that could use some love.  These are charities either we’ve donated to before, or have heard from reputable sources they are good ones.  We’ll be showcasing local, national, and global charities.

(If you have one that you would like showcased email me at: sylumclan@yahoo.com – Subject Line: Charities)

This month’s charity is dear to Sylum’s heart as it was started by Paul Walker.

Reach Out Worldwide goes to Natural Disasters around the world.  They’ve been at every Hurricane, Tsunami, Earthquakes, Fires ….

It’s a good charity and the fact it lives on in Paul’s name is heartwarming.

Reach Out Worldwide

 

Afternoon Fic: Save the Mutant Save the World (Part Twenty)

Part One

Part Nineteen


<<You are no fun, Charles.>>

Erik glanced around at his team. “Show time.”  

They all grabbed onto Azazel, and ended up in the middle of chaos.  

Two of the Sentinels were hovering over the platform, while others were moving through the crowds.

Cars were turned over and debris was scattered everywhere.

The authorities were overwhelmed, not sure where to go or help.  Their weapons were useless against the machines. Eric noticed instantly, that one of the cops was being targeted, some fellow officers moved to help, while others fled the exposed Mutant and Sentinel.

“Azazel!” Erik pointed towards Logan, who was standing in front of families trying to get the Sentinel to follow him, instead on what it was focused on, considering the mom was hiding her daughter behind her, she knew exactly why it was targeting them.  “Get the kids out of here.”

He nodded zapped into the middle of the families, and after only a second of hesitation the mothers grabbed his hand and they were poofed away.

“Alex go after the one that’s heading out of the area.”  <<Really could’ve used that stadium, Charles>>

<<That would’ve really dented my Magneto Destruction budget>>

Erik glanced across the grass, eyes narrowing at his lover, who was smirking slightly.  He was staying close to Beast, and between the two of them they trying to usher military vets out of the area, though a portion of them were refusing to leave – defenders of their country no matter what.

“Darwin, stick with Alex, let’s hope if you can survive Shaw you can survive them.”  He waved his hand snagging the one that was heading for the White House. He pulled it back, feeling the strain.

<<Find the place between Rage and Serenity>>

With the rage of his people being hunted down, and the serenity of Charles surrounding him, he was able to yank it away from the building, dismantling it in the process, leaving parts all over the White House lawn.   He then went after the one closest to Charles, only to have a third aim straight for him. He dodge the bullets, cringing as one sliced across the top of his shoulder, two inches to the left, and Charles would’ve been a widow and likely bringing down the government in a fiery furry.

<<A little over dramatic darling.  Please be careful.>>

<<How many citizens have you mind whammied into leaving>>

<<More than I care to admit, what is with people who just don’t listen!>>

<<Where the fuck is Mystique?>>   He asked as he forced the Sentinel that attacked him up in the air then crashed it straight into the ground.  <<For that matter where is Trask?>>

<<Secret Service dragged them into the White House Panic Room>>

Erik glanced towards the White House, reaching out with senses and grinned as he felt the perfectly square metal box.  <<Good thing they made it out of metal.>>

***

Trask sat back in his chair, heaving from the run to the Oval Office.  He was right, this proved he was right. “See I told you they were dangerous.”

“Right now, the only thing keeping your Sentinels from killing American Citizens is those Mutants.”  One of the Generals snapped at him. “My own men can’t counter those things, what happens if they got out of control?”

“They aren’t designed to!”  Trask stood his full height, glaring up at the man.  “They only go after Mutants.”

“And what if that Mutant is a child?”  One of the Senators asked. “How is that going to look on the news, that your creation killed a child.”

The room was deadly silent, waiting for an answer, and Trask wasn’t even sure how to answer it.  The beeping from his detector caught everyone’s attention. “She’s here.”

Just then one of the Secret Service Agents, attacked those around him.  In a few swift moves they were down, and the Agent had a weapon pointing it directly at Trask, only to pull back when someone else was suddenly standing in front of him.

“Azazel!?” Mystique morphed into her natural form, staring at her lover in shock.  “Why are you defending him? He killed our friends!!”

“Because I know more about this situation, than you and this isn’t the right thing to do.”  He stood his ground, a sword in each hand ready to defend himself and Mystique if it came down to it.  He realized why they had to stop her, but he understood the desperate need to rip Trask’s head off.

“Charles is influencing you!”

“See I told you one of them could influence minds!” Trask pointed out to everyone in the room.  The very idea, that someone could get into another’s mind and make them do things was disturbing and should be eradicated!  Even the Mutant who wanted him dead, knew it!

“Little man, sit down and shut up.  I’m trying to do what’s right here, despite the fact I want to string you up by your toes and slice off your skin like you did my friend.”  Azazel growled at him, sending Trask further into the seat he was in. He then turned and looked at Mystique with the love he held for her even after the years apart.  “I came on my own, to talk to you. I want the same thing, I want the bastard dead for torturing our people, but you have to realize the consequence are far more grave and not worth your revenge.”

“I’m sorry Azazel I don’t agree…”

The room shook, knocking everyone off their feet.  In a flash Azazel was gone, he had done what he could, and it was now up to Erik to deal with her.  He zapped next to Charles, who gave him a soft smile and squeezed his arm. “She’s stubborn.”

“Runs in the family.”  Azazel looked around to see two Sentinels destroyed, one faltering as Alex and Darwin worked with officers to finish it off, and the last two Erik was controlling while yanking up the steal box.  “What do you need of me?”

“There’s some vets who are in wheelchairs, I’m not sure how Erik did it, but he has them secured behind some cars, get them out of the line of fire.  I can feel Erik’s exhaustion, he’s barely holding on to the last two.”

“Charles…”

“I’ll call you to get Mystique, she is still my sister, I will not see her in the hands of the human authorities.”  Charles assured him as he poofed away. The Professor tried not to laugh at the yelp, from the Veterans before they disappeared.

“Now what?”  Hank asked looking tired and slightly singed, there was blood flowing down his arm, matting his fur.  

Charles looked at him, then downwards to see a kid attached to his leg.  “We’re supposed to get them out of the area.”

“I tried, he was separated from his mother.  He’s got some interesting markings on his arms, I’m sure he’s a Mutant, so it was easier to keep him close at hand, than one of those things going after him.”   

Charles knelt down in front of the child.  “Hi.”

“I want my mommy.”  He held tighter onto Hank’s pant leg.

“We’ll find her.”  He did a quick dive into the child’s mind, to get a glimpse of what the mom looked like.  They had got seperated when the cops were pulling people out of the area, the young boy had tripped and reached for his mom when she got pulled away when one of the Sentinels went over, aiming directly for the child.  “I’m sure she’s worried for you.”

“Daddy left because of my markings.”

“Your daddy is an asshole.”  Hank muttered loud enough to get a glare from Charles.

“Your mom loves you very much.”  The kid nodded still digging his fingers into Hank’s pant leg.  “Stay with Hank here he’ll protect you.”

“Are you a superhero?”  He asked looking up at Beast, then over to Charles.

“No we’re just like you.”  

Charles stood and moved next to Hank, not soon after Logan made his way over, giving the kid a double take, but just shrugged keeping his claws out just in case.  

“It’s all or nothing.”  

<<Darling…>>

<<Not now Charles I’m trying to save the world.>>

Afternoon Fic: Save the Mutant Save the World (Part Nineteen)

Part One

Part Eighteen


Trask sat on the platform, eyes roaming over the crowd.  He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but his instinct told him that thing … that woman was out there.  He kept looking down at his alert, seeing if it was flashing red.

So far it had stayed quiet.

The President droned on about how the great government was doing all it could to make sure they protected the American People, from these Mutants.  

As if they single handedly came up with the Sentinels.  

He tried not to roll his eyes, but it was not shocking.  

Trask truly hadn’t expected credit for saving the world, but it would be nice to at least have his company mentioned in the building – he was after all trying to run a business.  His thoughts came to a startled stop as he glanced towards the President slightly shocked when his name and company was mentioned. With a humble smile, he waved to the crowd, ignoring the stares he was getting for his height.

It was then, he saw them.

The hippy, soldier, and kid.  The kid looked human again, he had studied the footage from Paris, watching his strength enhance with the blue fur, making him look like an animal … a Beast.

He glanced around wondering where Erik was, he was obviously the fighter in the group.  The man held himself above everyone, the way he used his Telekinetics to get what he wanted was blatant.  Trask admired him, in a way, the confidence that oozed off him would have men following him easily.

Which made him dangerous.

He glanced down at his indicator, when it started beeping.  There was a Mutant close to the stage, if not on it. Trask stood, holding out the device, until it landed on a Secret Service Agent.

“Mutant.”  He yelled, pointing towards the guard.  “It’s her I know it!”

Chaos erupted on the platform, Agents moved towards the President.  

Cops moved towards the platform to protect it.

<<Why are you doing this?>>

Trask shook his head, looking around panicking, before his gaze settled on the hippy, who was standing serene in all the chaos, two fingers tapping his temple.

<<All we want is to live our lives.  You have nothing to fear from us.>>

“They can influence our minds!” He yelled, hitting the activation button on the Sentinels, sending everyone into panic.

***

“Did you do that on purpose?”  Logan looked down at Charles, knowing full well that he was communicating to Trask.  He recognized the panicked look of suddenly hearing voices in your head.

“I was hoping he would listen, but if he decides to set the Sentinels off in a panic.”  Charles gave him a half shrug. “Mystique is on the stage, and she’s ignoring me completely.”

“Now what?”  Hank asked stepping back as the Sentinels came alive and started moving towards the crowds.

“Let Magneto show Mystique how it’s really done.”  Charles stared at one of the Secret Service Agents, as they moved the President and everyone else into the panic room in the White House.

“I take it back, you’re as vicious now as you were in the future.”  Logan slide his claws down, moving into a crouched position, ready for to attack – just as a Sentinel approached.

“Good move though.”  Hank furred, ready to fight.  He was done with hiding, and it was time the world saw that Mutants were not the enemy.  He took a step towards Charles ready to shove him back, as powerful the Professor was, he didn’t stand a chance against the machines.

“It’s called Chess, Hank.  You should play it sometime.”  

<<Darling.  Make your dramatic entrance.  Leave the stadium behind!>>

Sylum Advent 2018: Check In

Wait – what do you mean it’s the end of October!!! I’m not ready!

Dates to Remember:

November 5th – I should be seeing at least a rough draft.

November 15th – You should have a Title and image ideas sent to  taibhrigh.  If a banner idea isn’t turned in by this date, a generic banner will be used for Advent and a specific story banner will be made for the Archive after Advent.

November 25th – I should final draft and banner in my inbox.

 

Random Post: The Making of Sylum Blog

Last week’s Coffee House Friday I asked about Note Taking.

So I figured give you some behind the scenes of what it takes to work up Events like McFassy Fortnight, daily blog posts, or Advent.

First: there’s Tea.

Second: there’s the Bose headphones and music.

Third: there’s the blog notebook (as seen above) that particular shot is just a small section from McFassy Fortnight.

Yes… Yes I do have random pretties through out my notebook.  I also have stickers, washi tape, and stamps.  ‘Cause I’m five and I like pretty things while working.

Forth: there’s Tea.

Fifth: there’s usually cussing, growling, sighing, and waiting for the server to cooperate this would be the time I grab Charles my Kindle … (yes I named my Kindle Charles … Speed’s Kindle is named Erik – we may have a theme going on here) and play games – damn you Austin – I needed one move!

Sixth: there’s Tea.

Seventh: Posts done … naps now.

Afternoon Fic: Save the Mutant Save the World (Part Eighteen)

Part One

Part Seventeen


“So anyone else see the irony of a Jew, a Black Man, and a Juvenile Delinquent saving the world?”  Darwin gave his comrades a smirk.

“Who you calling Juvenile?” Alex hit him on the shoulder.  “War ages you man.”

“Unfortunately it does.”  Erik looked at the two men, then turn towards Azazel.  “I need you to get people out of the way, they will fight you, but win them over with your charming personality.”

“Da.”  He let out the Russian accent, smirking slightly.

“You are such an asshole.”  Erik laughed openly, soon the others joined in.  He sobered, and looked at them. “Don’t get dead.”

“For the sake of all humanity, you either.”  Alex patted him on the shoulder. “It’s time to show the world The Professors’ X-Men.  By the way, why aren’t we taking the jet?”

“Because we don’t want the government to know that we have better tech than they do,” Erik answered easily.  “Azazel get us to the baseball park, no I’m not going to rip it out.”

He gave his friend a look.  “Talk about scaring the natives.”

“Well it would’ve looked awesome, using America’s past time to trap the humans and sentinels together.”  He knew showmanship, Mystique still had a few things to learn if she was going to be over the top and absurd.  “But I promised Charles not to do too much damage.”

“So whipped.”  Azazel’s tale wrapped around his wrist, then reached out to the other two and they disappeared.

Random Post: International Sloth Day

So it would seem that Saturday the 20th – was International Sloth Day!

I’m getting dirty looks from Dr. Evan, Brandon, Harkness, and Spike.

*shifty look*

So we’re posting today!  In honor of International Sloth Day!

So here’s some adorable sloths in buckets!!

Not that we need an excuse to post adorable sloth pictures.

Sylum Inspiration: Peter I of Portugal

Integridad: Member

In 1328, Peter’s father, Afonso IV arranged for the marriage of his eldest daughter, Maria, to Alfonso XI of Castile. In 1334, she bore him a son, who ultimately became Peter of Castile. However, Maria returned home to her father in Portugal in 1335 because her royal husband soon after their marriage had begun a long affair with the beautiful and newly widowed Leonor de Guzman, which the Castilian king refused to end. Alfonso’s cousin, Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, had been rebuffed by the Castilian king in 1327 when the two-year child marriage between his daughter Constanza (granddaughter of James II of Aragon) and Alfonso had been annulled to clear the way for the marriage to Maria. For two years Juan Manuel had waged war against the Castilians, who had kept Constanza hostage, until Bishop John del Campo of Oviedo mediated a peace in 1329.

Enraged by Alfonso’s infidelity and mistreatment of his lawful wife, her father made a new alliance with the powerful Castilian aristocrat. Afonso married his son and heir, Peter, to Constanza, thereby allying himself with Juan Manuel. When Constanza arrived in Portugal in 1340, Inês de Castro, the beautiful and aristocratic daughter of a prominent Galicianfamily (with links albeit through illegitimacy, to the Portuguese and Castilian royal families), accompanied her as her lady-in-waiting.

Peter soon fell in love with Inês, and the two conducted a long love affair that lasted until Inês’s murder in 1355. Constanza died in 1345, weeks after giving birth to Fernando, who eventually became the first of Peter’s sons to succeed him as king of Portugal. The scandal of Peter’s affair with Inês, and its political ramifications, caused Afonso to banish Inês from court after Constanza died. Peter refused to marry any of the princesses his father suggested as a second wife; and the king refused to allow his son to marry Inês as Peter wanted. The two aristocratic lovers began living together in secret. According to the chronicle of Fernão Lopes, during this period, Peter began giving Inês’s brothers, exiles from the Castilian court, important positions in Portugal and they became the heir-apparent’s closest advisors. This alarmed Afonso. He worried that upon his death, civil war could tear the country apart, or the Portuguese throne would fall into Castilian hands, either as Juan Manuel fought to avenge his daughter’s honor, or the de Castro brothers supported their sister. Peter claimed that he had married Inês against his father’s orders. In any event, in 1355, Afonso sent three men to find Inês at the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha in Coimbra, where she was detained, and they decapitated her in front of one of her young children. Enraged, Peter revolted against his father. Afonso defeated his son within a year, but died shortly thereafter, and Peter succeeded to the throne in 1357. The love affair and father-son conflict inspired more than twenty operas and many writers, including: the Portuguese national epic Os Lusíadas by Luís de Camões, the Spanish “Nise lastimosa” and “Nise laureada” (1577) by Jerónimo Bermúdez and ‘Reinar despues de morir’ by Luís Vélez de Guevara, as well as “Inez de Castro” by Mary Russell Mitford and Henry de Montherlant’s French drama La Reine morte.

It was after after the loss Inês he was approached by his grandmother Elizabeth, who told him about Vampires, and told him she was sure Inês was Peter’s Mate.

He agreed to be Turned.

National Reptile Awareness Day

National Reptile Awareness Month!

Yes it’s a thing.

Godzilla. Reptar. Yoshi. The Geico Gecko. These are just a few of the famous reptiles we love. But on October 21 it’s National Reptile Awareness Day, a day we celebrate the most cold-blooded of our slithering friends. This day is observed to educate and raise awareness of threats to their natural habitats that our reptilian friends face.

For More Information: National Reptile Awareness

Fun Sylum Snippet in honor of this day, under the ‘read more’

Read more“National Reptile Awareness Day”

Sylum Archive: Likes & Login

As we know there’s always a few kinks when opening new things!  Especially something as big as the Archive.

If you’re having trouble logging in, the password doesn’t reset or the link has ‘timed out’.  Part of the problem could be the server itself timing out, or the system glitching.  Reply to any of the Archive Threads and I’ll work with you to get a new password set up, so you can access the Archive.

We also noticed that the ‘Like’ Button wasn’t showing up on the stories.  After some glaring, cursing and really?  It’s been fixed.  So while you’re roaming around the Archive, make sure to click those Like Buttons!