The Ice-mutant nodded once to Jiri then scratched his scar below the eye patch, something he did whenever someone was talking about Romania or the surrounding countries. It was more of a reminder he was there something that shouldn’t have been forgotten or brushed off like it only lasted a short time. Sam sipped his coffee trying to think of something more to say about it but got distracted by Jiri’s answer.

”Modest?” Sam asked Jiri as he slid out of view. ”I’m pretty sure the internet knows what’s in your pants.” Sam smirked, ”Did that come out worse? Is this a game we are doing?” Sam asked with a smirk trying to keep up the banter. Shifting his attention slightly Sam looked to the screen and spotted Cafas and passed it over. The next two questions popped up and he went back up to the first one.

”First off, Cafas a real man? When was the last he went camping and stared a fire with his bare hands hmm?” Sam raised his fists up and clenched them into a muscle flex causing his shirt to tighten around the arms. ”Second.” Sam stood upright so more than just his torso was in the shot. ”How am I gonna get a date if I advertise for free?” Sam put his hands on his hips as he stared at the computer screen. He got back into his chair and then leaned forward slightly.

”No, I don’t think that this is a mutation unless her skin is green. She could just be going through a phase. Cook some steak and then cook some veggies for her. Pretty sure she will be changing her tune when she sees you eating a nice juicy red steak. All Right?” Sam leaned back in his chair for the last question he saw before more came across the screen.

Clearing his throat and looking for Jiri before he started Sam turned and spoke. ”Where do we get off? Where does anyone else get off. Mutant camps happened and did nothing, United Nations did nothing but talk as children were torn away from their families. Parents taken from kids. Those with or in power should use it to benefit all of humanity and mutanity…” Sam thought for a second about the word before he corrected himself, ”Not sure that last one is a word but there is a word that I meant I’m sure. Anyways, we interfered because what was going on there was a repeated stain in the history books. Rounding up people, throwing them into camps, forcing them to work until they drop. Experimenting, torturing….” Sam’s nostrils flared and he grunted.

”It was messed up and unless you went through something like that, like what happened here… no book or news article could teach you that.” Sam leaned back further, ”$$$$ like that, ain’t human.” Sam looked over to Jiri, ”Can I say $$$$?” His frowned disappeared as he tried to lighten the interview up before he started getting upset. ”’Murica!”

>> “”First off, Cafas a real man?...”

“Ah yes, the manliness of Cafas Johnson.” Jiri grinned over steepled fingers. “So, as his team leader, you would say… this is a topic up for debate? Please elaborate for our viewers.”

That might or might not get him beat up by more fan girls, but it was totally worth it.

On the advice to cook a juicy steak for the veggie girl, the teen face palmed for the camera.

“Dude man, you're going to get this guy dumped.” Jiri reached out, and dragged the computer more his way. “Listen: she's probably just a vegetarian, all right? Even if it's not a mutation thing, not all girls want to eat a guy's steak shut up internet you know what I mean. So just respect her, okay?”

As the man talked about Romania, he slowly eased the camera back the way it had been. 'Cause yeah. That was… a lot more intense than his history teacher had made it out to be, apparently. Jiri didn't interrupt. He just kind of sat still, and tried not to get guilted out by the fact that half his attention was on how awkward he looked on the screen next to the impassioned X-Leader when he should be giving all his attention to the man's words.

A question floating by in the chat seemed highly relevant.

“Do you think the META bots are a lead-in to more drastic measures against mutants in the United States? How could the X-Men support their use?”

The talk of Romania was getting him a little worked up; it was clear on his face and in his voice. Sam pointed to his patched eye and left his finger there for a second, ”Do you condone this? My eye was taken in the camps. I was one of the lucky ones. We didn’t get there soon enough and while we helped countless people escape the country there were others we were too late to save. So forgive me if I don’t give a **** what the UN has to say.” he shifted slightly then ran his fingers through his hair and sighed before trying to change the subject. Sadly the next thing that popped up wasn’t much better. It was particularly difficult to answer due to his cooperation with the police currently. Not to mention a lot of people saw him as leader of the X-Men. Something he needed to rectify at some point.

”Now that is a difficult question to answer.” Sam said, ”I want to point out I don’t speak for the X-Men and I want to remind everyone I’m just a team leader on the X-Men not ‘THE’ leader.” he let those words sink in before he continued knowing he’d probably hear about an upset party member somewhere who had a problem with what he was about to say. ”I understand why people thought the META bots were a good idea but I also understand why they aren’t. A lot of people have seemed to forget that we had our own camps here in the states not to long ago, some of the camp guards were robots similar to the META bots. So some could view it as an early indicator that history is going to repeat itself.” Sam was thinking of Kaz and a few other mutants he knew that were afraid of what was going to happen.

”I want to point out I don’t think it is going to repeat itself at least I hope it doesn’t. I wouldn’t be sitting here if I thought that was the route it was going. I believe they got the META bots up and running to prevent more lives being taken from mutants misusing their powers. There are bad mutants, just as there are bad humans. The META bots were brought in to help reduce police and civilian casualties because the X-Men and the MRD can’t be everywhere at once.” Sam paused again and sipped some of his spiked coffee before adding, ”Now, I’ll probably get the most heat for this but I think that the META bots were released too early. I’ve noticed issues with their programming and I’ve been attacked once or twice by them.” Sam took another sip. ”Granted they were already pretty banged up at that point so I doubted they could have recognized me.” Sam said with a shrug.

The ice-mancer could already picture his phone and communicator blowing up with the commissioner and the mayor of NYC calling him to retract those statements but he wasn’t going to. He voiced his concerns before and no one listened. Maybe the public needed to be made aware of what was going on for anyone to listen.

Sam took another sip then looked back to Jiri, ”What do you think about them?” he asked curiously.

All in all, it was very politically worded. Like, trying-not-to-offend-people style. Mr. Johnson clearly wasn't lacking in opinions—his words about Romania sure as heck proved that—which made his META comments downright tame by comparison.

Seriously. Was there any X-Man who agreed with the METAs? Why were they still working with the police, if they didn't?

And then suddenly the question was turned on him and Jiri had the look of all high schoolers called on in class.

“You know, I think I'm starting to see why reporters like being the ones to ask the questions, not to answer them.” He chuckled nervously, running a hand through his curly hair. “Umm. I guess I hadn't really thought about it? It's like debating the next president, when I can't even vote yet. But I guess I agree with you. They're super buggy right now. Whatever they were supposed to be, this isn't it, and they really need to fix them before anyone can decide.” Much less a high school student who was used to putting his opinions in a five-paragraph essay due Monday.

“So hey, lighter topic.” Subject change! “What does the X's most eligible bachelor see in his future? Wife and kids, two dogs and picket fence? What would it take to get you settled down?”

Sam smirked at Jiri’s comment, he didn’t get asked many questions often but this was the interview format Sam was used to and it helped get a few points across not just his. It was clear that Jiri didn’t think much on the subject but then again most kids his age wouldn’t have thought much on it. There was no reason to because it didn’t directly affect them. However if the questions went unanswered too long they might in the end. Sam nodded his head when he got his answer from Jiri. It seemed Sam wasn’t the only one who found them buggy which was good. Might get other people starting to think about the subject as well.

The next question however caused Sam’s expression to grow dark and forced him to finish the rest of his coffee in several quick gulps. He didn’t want a question like this because it painfully reminded him of everything he had to give up when he broke the mind control. It was something that still haunted him to this day. Sam pulled the mug down from below the table and tried to empty the contents of the flask in it. Sam was sure the camera couldn’t see him but he knew Jiri could. Sam gave Jiri a look like that might have been more difficult to answer than the last two. Regretting it now Sam wished he had just removed his shirt. That might have redirected all these questions. Sam was also starting to understand why Ghost attacked Jiri.

”Uhhh…. Don’t like that question.” Sam gave a nervous laugh then produced the mug from under the table. Sam took a sip then looked to the camera and gave a fake smile, ”Not sure… had a few realistic dreams where I had all that but the world went to hell.” he said trying to simplify all that he felt when he broke hold of the dream. ”I did get close to settling down though. That was all before the” Sam pointed to his eye, ”Romania ****.” Sam gave a nervous laugh, ”I think really I’m just looking for the right one before I can think about settling down…” Sam paused then raised an eyebrow doing what he did best when things were getting serious he pretended that nothing was wrong, ”So I am accepting applications!” Sam looked to Jiri, ”You think you can give me hand with it? You seem to have a level head.”

Sam then raised an eyebrow to Jiri, ”So you got a girlfriend? Boyfriend? Friend?” he said quickly turning the question back on Jiri.

Jiri watched with increasing alarm as Sam's mug went from coffee with a little extra, to a little extra with coffee, one glug-glug-glug of his flask at a time. That wasn't on camera, right? A quick glance and a forced smile at the webcam told him that no no it wasn't, but just because the internet didn't see didn't mean it wasn't happening right here in front of him.

The X-Leader. Might have a drinking problem.

“You heard him, internet ladies. Those girls of his dreams set a high bar. As Sam's new Secretary of Dating, all first dates will go through me now. By happy coincidence, I'm also accepting applications for a significant other.”

Even more alarming: he was gulping that new contents of his cup like they were no stronger than the coffee had been.

Ooookay so apparently that hadn't been a good question. What else, what else, something totally non-controversial--

“We're picking between two names for our baby girl. My husband wants to call her Circe, but I think Leila is prettier. Tell him he's wrong!”

Sam smirked when Jiri mentioned he was looking as well then was taken aback as he started to sip from his next mug full of straight whiskey. Sam coughed as some went into his lungs and he set his mug down. He coughed for another minute before shaking his hands. ”I don’t think I’m the person to ask on that one. I dated girls with both those names and they didn’t have the best ending so… I think you should go with something else. One broke my heart several times and the other I had to arrest. I’d rather not go into further detail with that.” Sam said feeling a pretty good buzz now. He was a little looser with his words.

”Ayrn was my first pick.” Sam said thinking of his ice princess that wasn’t real. It was hard to remind himself that she was just that, not real. Sometimes he felt crazy thinking he actually had a family but he knew they were real. At least to him.

”Jiri, you want to give the ladies your email address?” Sam asked trying to change the subject again. ”Tasteful photos please ladies, nothing to graphic. I like to work for it.” Sam said raising an eyebrow into the camera.

“...If I just say a random girl name, is it like, 90% likely that you've dated her?” Jiri asked the whiskey-wheezing man. Because seriously. He was maybe getting that impression. “Out of curiosity, how many illegitimate children do you have running around?”

“Ladies, you know my forum contact details. Gents: please no. Just please no. Neither I nor Mr. Johnson are accepting your solicitations at this time, RIP my inbox.” As if he didn't get enough hate mail from Cafas' rabid fangirls as it was. At least the pictures should get a little more… variety after this.

Best not to think about it.

Shudder.

Well, they seemed to be back in friendly waters, topics-wise. So what else was there…

“Oh hey, look at that photo.” The one between the bosom shots (seriously though: time stamp or don't bother). The picture in question showed Cold Steel… “Are you flicking off grocery shoppers? I sense a story here.”

Sam knocked on the table. ”At the moment none, and I always condone safe sex. Remember don’t be a fool, wrap your tool.” Sam said pointing to the camera as if he was part of an X-Men PSA. ”I have had a few ladies claiming that there kids are mine just because they are mutants but. The test results said otherwise.” Sam said as he looked to Jiri as if it was a good thing.

Sam smirked when he saw the photo and immediately knew where it was from. ”Yup, that was me.” he didn’t deny or hide it in fact he was pretty proud of it. ”There was a mutant that looked like a giant walking crab and the people I was flicking off were too busy staring and looking dumb with their mouths open. Just being plain rude. She ended up dropping some of her groceries so I stepped in. Told them, well you can see what I told them as I started to help her. Not gonna mention her name though just because.” Sam said not sure the lobster woman in question would appreciate the attention.

”Human or mutant, you see someone struggling, lend a hand. Never know when the tables will be turned. Random acts of kindness go a long way.” Sam paused then thought about it, ”I was also in a bad mood that day sot he finger had a mind of it’s own.” Sam said wondering what other photos were going to resurface.

Jiri took a very special moment to turn to the camera. “This, ladies and gentlemen,” he said, hooking a thumb towards the man who definitely didn't have coffee in his mug, “Is our health teacher.”

Which Jiri was taking next semester. Oh god that was going to be interesting.

“Okay, serious question, from a guy who didn't figure out he was a mutant until pretty late in the game: how do you not freak out when you see giant crabs in the supermarket? I mean, seriously, when I see crazy new things I get weirded out. I wouldn't be a jerk to a giant crab, but I'd probably take a few steps back into the freezer isle and wait for it to leave, just to be safe.”

Which probably made him some sort of self-racist, but seriously, weird things were gonna weird.

And the next question up was…

“What's been your favorite mission?”

Sam smirked when Jiri called him a health teacher. He doubted he’d be good at it but he could teach some kids a thing or two. Most of them have no business being a part of a school’s curriculum but it would definitely would be informative. Sam put a pin in ‘knocking boots 101’ and thought he touch on it later pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to teach it but still thought it was a nice idea.

”Pretty easy actually, I remember when my mutation made me look less than human and I remember the looks I got. Hard to forget. Easy to remember that they are still people with feelings though. Some mutants just want to be ignored like everybody else. They just want to fit in and get their groceries without causing a scene.” Sam shrugged and his face coated over in ice. As if it was an example of some kind. The ice eventually fell off of his body as he looked to Jiri as he had the next one.

”Hands down, when I took on a volcano. Yep sounds as cool as it was. There was an island in Hawaii that had an erupting volcano and we had to delay it as long as possible to get the islanders off of said island. Very warm, close second was the island of the Amazonians. Yes, sounds just like it is. Don’t recommend going there though. They kill most men. Almost didn’t want to leave though.” Sam smirked then looked to Jiri, ”Hey, Jiri. When did you find out you were a mutant?”

“And where is this 'Island of the Amazonians,' precisely? You know. So that men can properly stay away.” Jiri asked this question on behalf of all men. Also lesbians. And bi-curious vacationers.

Regarding his own mutation: Jiri face faulted. “Umm.” When he possesed his little sister, probably. One of the times. Or did it not count until he actually knew knew? Because that would be when the test results came back x-gene positive while he was in the psych ward. Or did people only count from when it had sunk in? He was taking way too long to answer this, just go with that one--“Well, it was kind of… confusing, with my power, since it's hard to tell I'm not just dreaming. So I guess I didn't really process it my first tour of the Mansion. When I possessed Mrs. Csendes. And then she possessed me back. That was so far beyond nightmare-ish that it had to be real. She's the one who tried to brain me with a laptop, if anyone in internet land was wondering.”

“What about you?”

Sam shook his head, ”While it sounds amazing, it is a terrifying place. They hate outsiders and take slave labor to the next level and no not the cool way but the way you work till you drop then they drop you in fighting pits.” Sam said. It was a type of paradise for the ice mancer but he did have to rescue the people he was there to rescue other wise they would have died.

”Makes more sense now.” Sam said with a smirk, Jiri didn’t understand what he was doing and it must have gotten Maya worked up enough to smack the kid with a laptop. She normally wasn’t that aggressive right? Sam smirked more and took a sip of his mug when he recounted his own history.

”I was five.” he thought about it. ”Earlier than usual but I was taken from my home because I had an X-Gene. When it activated my body covered in ice and I ended up freezing someone.” he thought more about it. It wasn’t the best way to say he killed someone but he also didn’t mention that the person he froze was trying to kill him. Sam didn’t think T.A.T. was a good conversation topic for this interview nor the body count he amassed while he was with them.

”So you do the possession thing? What’s that like?”

“Mostly I try not to do it because it never ends well and hey look here's another question from our viewers--” A question, any question, any question that was not 'Jiri's powers or comfort level as a mutant after one full year at mutant school'.

“Do you play baseball?”

What kind of lame question was that

Seriously

“What's your favorite 'co-worker story' from your time on the X-Men? I bet you guys have some wicked fights.”

That one was better.

….”No… I don’t. Nor do I have time to watch it.” Sam answered. He didn’t believe in stupid questions but he felt like that was pretty close. Seriously baseball? Sam shook his head and tried not to feed too much on Jiri changing the subject clearly something he didn’t want to talk about. So the next question had to be something the little possessor wanted to talk about right?

”Got a few, keep in mind it isn’t all about fighting…” he thought for a second shifting through a few of the fights the mansion went through and he decided that he didn’t know too many of them all he was worried about was if his team was oaky in the fight not so much the cool things they were doing. ”I got a few, one of them was when one of our team members turned into a whale and swallowed some people up. It wasn’t a fight though, it was more of a rescue after a ship started to sink.” Sam thought and then named another, ”Gawain once jumped from one mirror and kicked someone into another mirror mid flight. He also then jumped through some ice mirrors I made then shot arrow after arrow at some robbers. No one died but they stopped robbing after that. Saph head butted a brick wall when he was made once causing the wall to cave. That was kinda cool. Jorge helped me take on a volcano after going all water mode on it.” Sam said reciting a few of them before taking a sip of his mug.

Sam shrugged, ”Cool stuff happens all the time I guess, just not always watching it. Though one of my favorites that I did, took down big bird in the park some kid thought him up and he came to life. One of the hardest fights I had in my life. Kid you not.”