If in excess, the billboard could be considered vision pollution, but marketing will never die; just renovate. Kitty Pryde, holding a mug with the words “Best Teacher Ever,” watches from the blinders of her classroom the new model of Vogue, a mutant who worked as a model before…Genosha was born. In a revealing piece, Elizabeth Braddock is winking in the art, and her seductive eyes mesmerize anyone.
Kitty Pryde takes a sip from her mug, tasting the rich flavor of her beloved coffee, and then adds, “Think Scott is seeing her?” She turns to her co-worker Bobby Drake, who is folding some paperwork. No one would imagine Bobby Drake as a teacher, and no one would imagine Genosha thriving for so long.
Bobby doesn´t even lift his head, eyes still on the essays in his hands. “He´s Scott Summers.” His eyes narrow. “Why are our students crushing on Namor? Should we be concerned?”
Kitty would like to gossip about Scott´s love life a bit more. The man is a magnet to telepath women. Ever since Jean passed 4 years ago-Scott Summers took grief in his terms, however, one can interpret - suddenly dating pool has opened to the former leader of the X-men and…many rumors are circling.
But maybe that´s not the time.
“All my students did an essay about him, look…” Kitty turns to Bobby with a heavy sigh. “As long they aren´t crushing on us or, more important me, I´m fine with that.”
The confession makes Bobby laugh so hard.
“How many teens fall in love with you?” The question is meant to be harmless. The frown on the former ninja and the Iceman quickly changes the tune. “Sorry, it was funny but must be embarrassing. My bad,”
Kitty rolls her eyes and sighs again. Why do so many teens fall in love with her?
The woman wants another coffee but the thought can´t be materialized as all the people to enter Jean Grey´s institution of High Learning is Quicksilver, the prince of Genosha. Arrogant as ever scanning the teacher´s lounge with keen eyes.
That´s not something…normal.
Normally, if a member of the House of M would bring one of the guards. Kitty Pryde looks around in hopes of seeing a certain elf, no signal of elves. The man is the fastest man on Earth- don´t ever mention NorthStar!- and is talking to Bobby. The Maximoffs and the X-men have a relationship, it´s better than the Avengers. It´s different.
Genosha is for lovers.
Pietro Maximoff, the prince and consort, asks for Bobby to leave them alone. THEY, always use this particular pronoun with Pietro and Wanda. Pietro asks for Bobby to leave as Pietro and Wanda want to talk with Kitty, alone.
Kitty gasps and phases her mug to the ground, the remains liquid phases to the flooring. Not the first time, not the last time either.
The most important thing in this scenario is. “THE QUEEN?”
Pietro rolls his eyes and adds. “Do you know any other queen?” His tone is sarcastic as Bobby takes his stuff and leave, pouting as he wanted to see the queen but better not piss off the “couple”
Genosha is for lovers.
“Yes, actually. There´s Storm, Emma Frost, Madelyn Pryor and…” She stops counting as Pietro shakes his head. The man doesn´t react to those names, instead, his indifference is pretty telling.
“None of them are on the same level as Wanda,” Pietro speaks as a proud brother, maybe, like a lover would. A good boyfriend often props his girlfriend - Kitty can make a small parallel with Kurt Wagner- and only stops as Wanda, the queen of Genosha walks in. No, she glides through the air like a goddess.
Pietro looks at her with fondness, love, and more.
Genosha is for lovers.
Wanda Maximoff, with her red dress- in a way, her dress resembles fire, in a way it makes Kitty think of how Wanda can manipulate reality easily- greet Kitty with a formality a queen must, but there´s a warm in her words.
The X-men and the Maximoff do have a good relationship.
“I´m sorry for my brother, he has no patience,” Wanda side-eyes him and Pietro just smiles at her, it´s a secret full of secrets Kitty doesn´t know. It is hard to think a normal brother and sister would smile at each other without…love.
Her face softens as she adds. “He´s worried for our boys. But could use more patience!”
“NO!” and adds as an innuendo that Kitty picks in. “You like it when I run,” His smile is salacious, it makes Wanda blush and Kitty blink remembering the rumors floating regarding the queen and the consort/prince being closer, far too close.
“Is everything with the princes?” Kitty asked inwardly panicking as magic can be so finicky. Her mind goes to Illyana Rasputin and how Kitty had to go to hell to get her dear friend back-the age gap is hardly an issue after hell- her eyes are frenetic to both sides as if a portal from hell will open. “Should we call the others?”
Wanda chuckles a little. “My bad, I didn´t explain well, our sons are fine. No magic haywire, I promised you.” Kitty relaxed at this. Well, if they were experiencing problems with magic Kitty would be the last person to help.
Illyana Rasputin would disagree but that´s another story.
“I´m in dire need of a good and trustworthy tutor for our sons, “ Wanda looks at Pietro, the man is silent but nods at Wanda in agreement. The queen is looking back at Kitty Pryde now. “I´ve heard you´re one of the best teachers in all of Genosha.”
Smugness is a feeling Kitty is not new…It adds to her satisfaction to know Emma Frost, a woman with morals as appalling as one can hope, is not even in the top 5 of best teachers in Genosha. A beaming smile dares to spring on her face.
Kitty Pryde takes pride in her job, after all, that´s her name after all.
But in her age comes experience, and stories of people who were blinded by their hubris and how the best traps are the ones with the nicest ornaments. Kitty courteously asses the possibilities and inquires with a polite tone. “Why now?” It´s a simple question as the princes had the best tutors-Dr. Doom, for all his villainy, has made a point to play nice and offer the best in the hope of strengthening an allyship with Genosha.
Wanda has a hard expression to read, it´s offended by her question. Maybe she thought, given how the Maximoffs and X-men have a good relationship are so positive Kitty would gladly accept. Sorry, my queen, I need more information before going into tutoring another noble. Maybe Wanda is considering what to say.
Genosha is for lovers.
The queen ever regal exchanges a look with her brother. Pietro takes one look at Kitty and then back to his queen. There are no words needed among them only a brief nod.
The queen sighs and explains a bit more, holding her hands together. Her eyes are slightly narrow as she speaks exasperated. “Have you heard about their last …stunt?”
Kitty only nods. Who hasn´t?
“My sons are sensitive children, really,” Wanda says like any mom wanting to absolve their children. Pietro shakes his head slightly, like any father would. “But they got a skewed view on things thanks to their grandfather.” Wanda takes one look at Pietro to see the dark scowl on his face.
Kitty says nothing. It´s a vague explanation but when your father is Magneto nothing else needs to be said.
Wanda continues. “Their little group, wants to help people humans and mutants and that´s noble but their actions are…misguided.”
Kitty doesn´t press for more on this front. Everyone saw what the little princes did.
Everyone can see how the kids resemble the …family. Mother and father, it´s familiar.
Pietro interjects boldly, rather arrogantly. “You´re the only person our dear,” the sneer is so visible. No one can ever ignore how Magneto and Pietro have a rocky relationship even with Wanda wanting to smooth things. “ever admitted is wrong, to even stop. Not even Prof Xavier managed that feat.”
Kitty blinks. Ok yeah, that makes sense.
Kitty has tutored royal kids before. For example, Ororo the rightful queen of Wakanda requested Kitty to teach “her kids” -Storm hadn´t birth any kids yet but she took under her wing mutant kids and trusted Kitty to help- and even Madelyn Pryor, the Goblin Queen asked Kitty´s help in the past too.
Kitty should have prepared for this possibility. Why do I never imagine that? Silly Kitty. Inhale deeply Kitty has to make a decision. “You can´t sprung that on me,” accused slightly as Wanda doesn´t seem resentful but Pietro is watching her carefully, ever the watchdog for his amazing queen, his sister. “As I´m busy with the final exams for my students, however, we can draft a contract…I want to help the princes and you two as must I can.”
Wanda nods. “It´s doable.”
Pietro seems to agree with the terms.
Even when they appear to agree, no words are needed. When they do use words, it´s their language. Pietro holds her hand and kisses ever gently uncaring if Kitty is looking or not Wanda blushes slightly and they seem lost in their world.
Genosha is for lovers.
They remember Kitty Pryde is still in the room.
Kitty wonders if they would be like Morticia and Gomes Addams. There are rumors in Genosha about the queen and her brother, no one needs to use words, not in Genosha, and certainly not for this.
Clearing her throat, Kitty inquired again. “What exactly do you want me to teach? I´m not good with languages,” Kitty can speak 4 languages but Kurt, the German fuzzy elf, loves to tease her when she speaks in his birth language.
Wanda shakes her head gently. “They speak many languages already, Pietro taught them that,” her words seem so full of pride. Her smile remains on her lips. “History would be ideal for now. If you can talk about what went down in 2020 would be great,”
Kitty throws her back and sighs. “How many historical events do you want me to cover?”
Pietro and Wanda, speak in unison. “All of them!”
Spoke like parents. If I had a penny every time a parent asks for that…I would be rich enough to buy my island.
Now the conversation gears to the details and communication. Pietro will be the one to schedule the meeting and the contract, no need to use Prof X. The draft of a contract can wait but the royal couple makes a point to want Kitty to be the tutor now.
Once the details are set, Pietro takes the queen, without shame or hesitation, in his arms. Wanda cradles his face so tenderly, and her eyes light up as…a nice couple in love.
In a blink of an eye…they are gone.
Kitty Pryde can only think how…Genosha is really a place for lovers.
Kitty with her ponytail arrives in her loft yawning and doesn´t bother to open the door, only phasing. “Kurt, you won´t believe what happened to me today!” exclaimed barely containing a laugh. “It happened again!”
Kurt Wagner, the imperial guard, is on the couch waiting for her …not naked, for once. “Welcome back, Katzchen!” her tail is flipping around happily. Kitty went and gave a kiss on the elf.
“How is the work?” Kitty asked looking fondly at his golden eyes. Kurt cradles her face, a thing so reminiscent of …Wanda and Pietro.
Kitty Pryde would kneel but Kurt is faster and catches her in his arms, so easily.
“Oh, it was the same as old,” Kurt comments as his tail wraps on Kitty´s calf so naturally. “Rogue is still annoyed with Gambit, the princes are still grounded and I patrol the cities. Magneto is still the same,” Shrugs so blase.
“And you? How was your day?” Kurt asked having a pretty good idea what happened, hard not, as he works directly with the palace. Gossips fly as if powered by magic. His eyes, oh so golden, gaze at her with so much love…resembling Pietro.
“Guess who will tutor royals..again? THIS GALL HERE!” Kitty wrapped her arms around Kurt and the scene resembles so much the queen and her brother. Their affection is hardly rare but people don´t dwell on it.
Genosha is for lovers, which is a phrase Kitty likes to say. It´s a phrase where Kurt loves to hear a lot.
Kurt frowns at this. “I heard about that…” Kitty knows his hesitation. “You think that´s alright?” The elf is looking for the right words to speak about the obvious. Subtle is his forte, but everyone has a blind spot.
Kitty blinks cutely at him.
“Katzchen…” Kurt begins again after a long sigh. “You don´t think this resembles…me and Jimaine?”
His foster sister once was his girlfriend …in seek for power.
The break-up was nasty, to say the least, and Kitty was involved, if you ask any X-men Jimaine is a person non-grata Wolverine still wants to kill her and Rogue does not shy away from such sentiment…Jimaine is gone.
“No, because the queen and her brother love each other…” Kitty then adds gently. “Like I love you, so there´s a difference.”
Kurt seems to be at ease with this reply but adds. “There´s a rumor about her kids…” and trails off as the implication is known and too on the nose.
Such implication didn´t bother Kitty as she adds. “Many monarchies did it and still do, Dr. Doom wanted to marry his sister…but hm, well…that was a fluke.”
Kurt, to her surprise and delight, laughed. “Well, Johnny Storm sleeping with your fiance is a deal break in my humble opinion.”
“The most awkward wedding ever!” Kitty agrees as she kisses his lips gently. They cuddle, and they kiss until they are one. She worries about her new jobs on Kurt´s part thanks to the gossip, and the great vine, and she never really cares about what others think.
Kurt realizes that later, as they are in bed relaxing if she did care about what others think, she wouldn´t be in his arms.
Genosha is for lovers, it´s a motto Kitty repeats in her mind as she sees posh couples passing by and they should snub her -especially as she´s not royalty- but a tutor of the princes is not something anyone can ignore. After the School for High Learning Jean Grey´s students got their exams…Kitty is free to tutor.
The palace of Genosha is opulent, as any royal would devise. The design is far more south-east than anything European and Kitty wonders if Wanda made the castle or if Magneto used his powers. Maybe it was Lorna who did it…or it was a gift from other nations.
Thank god I´m not here to teach architecture.
Right, just the 2020 story………….the apocalypse. Oh, not the villain Apocalypse…However, he does show up later in that story.
Magneto is there to receive her showing relief she´s here already. “I approved her choice, really,” Magneto speaks as the decor of the palace is filled with photos of Wanda´s family, it´s filled with Wanda´s love. “I do support her, but…it´s good you´re here.”
Kitty blinks as she notices there are more photos of her family than the Avengers- Wanda is a good friend of Carol Danvers although they had some trite in the past…Carol wasn´t happy her boyfriend turned out to be Marcus, her son and….rapist? - nor the X-men and many relationships of both teams dabbled in controversies in the past.
Dating your sister is one of them.
Magneto spoke. “But ...Her dating choices concerned me,” Magneto turns to Kitty not being subtle. “I´m sure you are aware how demange incest is…right?”
Kitty doesn´t wave. It´s not the first thing people ask her once knowing who she is dating. The poker face has many interpretations for Magneto but the man continues to speak.
“Your boyfriend was the victim of incest….”
Kitty rolls her eyes. “Yes, Jimaine was his adopted sister. Yes, she used him and was discharged and she would gladly sleep with you if it means getting power.” Kitty feels no remorse for such crude words. “But the key difference here is how Pietro and Wanda AREN´T Kurt and Jimaine”
Magneto wants to say something else…
Kitty continues. “Genosha is for lovers, after all…besides what do you expect me to do? I´m just here to teach about 2020 to the kids.”
Magneto remains silent for the rest of the day.
Later it is possible to see Kitty teach the kids, Prince Billy and Prince Tommy, while the parents watch from afar. Wanda and Pietro holding hands, as lovers would, hoping for a better future for their kids.
Magneto watches from afar and hopes for a better future for Lorna.