[Public] Journal Entry: Faiza Hussain, 6/15/2014

[om_panacea]

I suppose I had better post this while I'm still wound up. Then everybody else can help keep me awake until a sensible time to sleep.

Jet lag is awful.

Right. My name is Faiza Hussain and I've just arrived from the UK. Chelmsford, to be exact. It's all been kind of a whirlwind, but I'm here and in one piece. Missing home and parents, of course, but I'm pretty sure homesickness happens, right?

Seems I've arrived just at the end of school, though. I still had a month to go back home. Hadn't even gotten my GCSE scores yet.

I'm...honestly not certain what to talk about here. What is there to do for fun? I don't suppose anybody here plays cricket, though can we GET cricket on the TV?

Comments

[om_magik]

Hi Faiza!

Welcome! I'm Illyana, and I just got here this week, too. I managed to skip out on the jet lag, at least - but if you need help staying awake, I'm happy to help. I'm down in room 103!

Everyone seems to talk about different things in the journals, but one of the most common is what you do, mutation-wise?

I'm not sure if we get cricket on tv or not, but good luck getting the remote away from everyone watching the World Cup! ;) (if you manage, let me know so I can come watch, too!)

[om_panacea]

I'm in room 108. And it's more that it's afternoon and I should probably not sleep until after dinner.

Oh. Umm. I'm a healer? Apparently. It's kind of weird. But I seem to take people apart and put them back together again. Kinda literally.

Oh, bloody hell. I forgot all about that. It's not that I'm opposed to the World Cup. It's just that everybody pins our hopes on Rooney and he's a potato.

[om_serenity]

Welcome to the school Faiza. My name is Inara and I room with Laura in 104 East.

Really, there's plenty to do on campus. And if we get bored, Lydia's been generous enough to provide us with transit passes into New York for the weekends.

[om_panacea]

Hello, Inara.

I've never been to New York. Obviously. So that would be really nice. I bet it's a lot different from London!

[om_quicksilver]

Sup, Faiza? One more for the UK club--you guys are taking over (and that's not a complaint). Welcome, etc. Prepare for an onslaught of questions in re your powers, btw. Though I see you've already got started on that one. Sounds bad-ass.

I'm Pietro. My sister's Wanda. Our dad's Lehnsherr. I have superspeed, which is as awesome as it sounds, yes.

[om_panacea]

I had heard there were a few of us about. I think the heads were trying to make me feel more at home. And yes, I've already gotten that one. I wasn't sure if that was the sort of thing you put in the opening. Suppose I should have, though.

Ah, right. Wanda's actually my roommate. We haven't really talked yet, I'm sure that will happen soon. And I'll admit, superspeed DOES sound very cool.

[om_scarletwitch]

You'll probably be seeing a lot of him, Faiza, I apologize in advance. He responds well to rolled-up newspapers though.

I'm sorry I haven't come meet you yet, I didn't know you were getting in today. I should come fix that.

[om_panacea]

It's all right. It was sort of a very quickly decided thing. Probably had more to do with the way the press was handling everything.

I'm not sure about newspapers. Would a notebook do? Or a magazine?

[om_scarletwitch]

Understandable. We can talk tonight.

Probably. Also spray bottles with water.

[om_panacea]

Are you certain he's not part cat?

[om_scarletwitch]

It would explain a lot.

[om_quicksilver]

Wow it really would.

And yes, what Wanda said. I mean, I'd try and protest to save face but you're gonna figure out the truth right quick so. Yyyyeah.

[om_panacea]

I'll keep a magazine on standby, then.

[om_touchstone]

Welcome to the school, Faiza. I'm Simon Tam, former student, current intern in the infirmary. I saw the news of your ability's manifestation. It must have been somewhat traumatic. Please let me know if I can help at all.

I must say, it's nice to have another healer around again. Since our last left, I've been a little worried about the student body's welfare. They seem to get into the worst situations.

[om_panacea]

Yeah, I saw it in the papers. Not that most of them are worth reading, honestly. Especially the red banner ones. Or the Mail. Mum and Dad mostly read the Independent, but even then...

Erm. Sorry. I kind of get going sometimes when I'm nervous. Anyway, I dare say it was more traumatic for Andrea than me.

What happened to your last healer? Or, rather, where did they go, I suppose. Because the student body getting in the worst situations sounds a bit ominous. Though I suppose it means I'll get practice with my powers, right?

[om_touchstone]

Our last healer left to help set up a mutant relief organization, or so I was told. Personally, I think he should have finished his degree first, but I suppose he had a choice and he made it. It certainly isn't the worst excuse.

As for the student body, most of the injuries we get around here are either hangovers or powers accidents. I wouldn't be too worried about it. Once in awhile someone comes in with something more serious, and it's not always easy to take someone to a nearby hospital, what with some differences in physiology.

[om_panacea]

Well, that is important as well. Though the degree to go with things might have helped. But if he's with a mutant relief organization, they already know what he can do. I'm sure he'll come back and finish sometime, though.

I think small injuries would be best. I mean, it's obvious now that I can do big things. Or I'm pretty certain I can because Andrea was pretty banged up. So I guess we'll see.

[om_patriot]

Hello, Faiza! My name is Steve Rogers, from Brooklyn, New York. It's nice to meet you, and I hope your jet lag is better soon!

School has just ended, but a lot of the school stays on over the summer, since it's also for teaching about powers. It's easy to find someone to hang out with, or like Inara said, there are passes to go into the City.

As for cricket, I'd speak to Tony. If we don't already get a channel, I'm sure he knows how to. :)

[om_ironman]

Are you implying that I might do something mildly illegal for the sake of television, Steven?

Actually, I probably could. Hey new girl, which channel do you need?

I'm Tony. In case that wasn't obvious.

[om_patriot]

Oh. I didn't actually realize that was illegal.

[om_panacea]

Oh, I see.

Umm. Well, most of them are on Sky Sports? That's one of the major cable distributors back home. I don't know if you could get it over here at all, even with doing it illegally.

Well, it would be illegal anyway because this is the US and I'm pretty certain they don't have distribution rights to the US at all.

[om_panacea]

Or Channel 5. They sometimes have coverage, too. And definitely don't have distribution rights to the States.

[om_panacea]

Or I suppose I could just use the internet to listen to it on BBC Radio. THAT'S legal, at least.

[om_ironman]

Eh, grey area. Anyway, I can probably rig your phone to catch feeds from the home country if you want.

Oh yeah, I've got a new phone for you. Unofficial part of the welcome package.

[om_panacea]

Oh! I...hadn't even thought about phones, really. Though I suppose my old one wouldn't work over here. I doubt Vodaphone has coverage this side of the pond.

That would be really good, though. The phone and the feeds. Thank you.

[om_ironman]

Coverage is accounted for, not to worry. Consider it done.

[om_pyro]

Can I get in on this 'rigged for cricket' action? I'm dying over here, mate!

[om_ironman]

Probably? I'll have to see if I can get it to work first.

[om_pyro]

I'll owe you heaps if you can!

[om_panacea]

I think jet lag takes about a week. I'm not sure how to use my powers on myself or even if I can or if it would help, so I think I'm just going to have to sleep it out.

My parents are probably going to try to come out for some time toward the end of summer. They couldn't come because it was an emergency thing and they couldn't get time off. Actually, I'm a little surprised I got in so easily. But it's good that I won't be the only one around!

[om_endgame]

Hello Faiza! I'm Lucrezia Borgia.

What incredible timing; you've just come from Chelmsford, and I've just returned. So sorry to miss your settling in, but I'm so excited to have a neighbour to talk about home with!

Do let me know if I can bring you anything when I return.

[om_panacea]

Ah. You're probably going to hear all about me, then. And possibly not good things. Well, most people seemed to come down on my side, at least there. It could have been worse.

Oh, wait. Borgia. That's the name of the Bishop, isn't it?

[om_endgame]

It is -he's my father. So you can rest assured that we stopped believing everything we read in the newspaper a long time ago.

[om_panacea]

Yes, I can only imagine.

I mean, not that I go to the church or anything. But it's hard to live in Chelmsford and not know who the bishop is.

[om_pyro]

Hello hello, Faiza! Just you and me for the cricket I think, but I'm actually a damn good bowler. Otherwise there's lots of sport going on, but I'm shit at it.

Right, I'm John, sorry, just got a bit excited about the cricket. Pyromancer and all. Hence the code name. Pyro.

[om_panacea]

Well, at least I'm not alone on the pitch, as it were. I'm not a bad bowler myself, honestly. I played a fair amount of it and field hockey at school. Think maybe I can get my parents to bring a cricket set over and we can try teaching the locals how to play?

Glad to meet you, John.

[om_pyro]

Oh, that would be brilliant! Let's see if we can't get that sorted out. They'll love it once they try it. I mean, how could they not, am I right?

[om_aurora]

Hello, Faiza, and welcome! I'm Jeanne-Marie. I light up and share superspeed with my brother--who's off in Canada right now, but hopefully he'll be back soon. I'll be the languages teaching assistant this year!

Welcome, and if you need help finding anything or getting comfortable, please let me know. It was all very disorienting for me when I arrived but now it's certainly home.

[om_panacea]

Hello, Jean-Marie. Those are definitely some very nice powers. I don't think I'm taking any language this year. I'm pretty decent at French. Or enough to get me through my GCSEs, I hope.

I'll let you know if I need anything, thank you. Well, other than knowing where make a cuppa, at least.

[om_padfoot]

Hey there, you the Faiza everyone's talking about back home?
Sirius Black, we seem to be sharing the front page a lot the last few days!

[om_panacea]

Oh Allah, I didn't realize they'd gotten my name now.

Yes, it is. At least, I'm relatively certain I am. I don't know how popular a name Faiza is in England right now.

[om_padfoot]

The papers haven't stated names, no, but I do have friends in places. We can keep your name out for longer if you wish? Like I said, I have friends in places.

Probably about as common as Sirius. We'll never have keychains with our names printed on, alas, but we'll always be memorable and often misspelt, won't we? :D

[om_panacea]

There is that, I suppose.

Wait. Sirius? As in Sirius Black? I didn't realize you were at this school! Well, I suppose I should have thought since the whole coming out thing made rather a splash. I imagine your parents haven't been pleased.

It's all right if they get my name, I suppose. My friends have been good about it. No sudden shunning, at least. I guess being friends with a Pakistani-British Muslim means the jump to being friends with a mutant isn't that difficult to stomach.

[om_padfoot]

That's me, the one and only! And correct, the parental units are not happy. It's rather amusing all things considered.

If you're sure but I can buy you time if you want it. Your friend's sound solid though, at least. Some of mine are still pretty freaked and I personally think my mutation is rather cute so...

[om_panacea]

It's going to get out there sooner or later. Part of me wants to hide for as long as I can but the rest of me realizes that it's like ripping off a plaster. It might hurt less if it happens quickly.

Though I'm not sure if I'd do a video like you did.

[om_padfoot]

It's different for everyone, I'm used to live TV plus best way to get to a teen audience (some most likely to be mutants)and live meant I couldn't be edited without my consent. I had full control. But, yeah, I get why it'd be scary for some.

If you want help/advice with navigating the UK press, I'm your man (though the esteemed Lydia is our official PR guru so you may want to check in with her for advice)

[om_panacea]

I'll keep that in mind. Both you and Lydia, whom I haven't met yet.

[om_padfoot]

knock out red-head in skyscraper heels. You can't miss her ;)

[om_panacea]

Certainly sounds like it would be difficult!