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PowerSwap
On Dec. 10th 2003, I placed the
challenge
below in my LiveJournal
and the response was astonishing:
50+ stories of varying length. Each new story was added in the
order
in which I received notice of it, although several entries by one
writer
are all grouped together. Most have summaries, though a few
authors
never submitted one. There were also three different RPGs that
emerged, two of them being: X-Axis
and X-Repowered.
In addition, a Buffy AU swap appeared, begun by one of the players in
X-Axis, called Shrimpless.
Clearly, people have had some fun!
 I've
seen several mix-n-match-power AUs, and
they always have the potential to be a lot of fun, as it's often
remarked
how much a mutant's particular power shapes his or her
personality.
So write a movieverse story
featuring
-- but not limited to -- Scott and Jean, in which the characters have
radically
different powers. That means don't give Scott Jean's telepathy or
Logan's healing factor. Give him, oh, Magneto's powers, or
Jubilee's, or Bobby's,
or Sabretooth's. Give Jean Marrow's powers, or Mystique's, or
Colossus',
or Gambit's. It's perfectly acceptable to borrow powers from ANY
comic-X-verse
character, BUT try to change little or nothing else about Jean and
Scott's
backgrounds or appearances, unless affected by their (new) mutation
(including
Scott's status as a handicapped mutant). They came from the same
families,
have basically the same talents, etc.
How would they be
different
people? How would they be the same?
Other characters
may
keep their normal mutations or not, and Scott and Jean don't
necessarily
have to be a romantic pair. They don't even both have to be X-Men.
I guess this is
kinda
a "nature or nurture?" question -- with a twist.
(It
wasn't
just writers who got inspired. The manipulated images in the
title
pic above were done by Erin,
the artwork below for "Under the
Stairs"
was done by L.K. Malnassy, and for "He Who Has Ears to Hear" by Bounce.)
No mention of what the new mutations are, since that's part of the fun.
"Pillar of the Dream" and "Dominos," by Obi-Wago Kenobi
(1) As with everything worth building, the
X-Men
need a sturdy foundation (a retelling of X1) and (2) Some things, no
matter
how unpleasant, are inevitable (sequel to first, prelude to X2)
"Opposites
Attract,"
by Penknife
Need isn't the same things as love.
"The
Silence
in Screaming" and "Meant
to Fly," by Ally
(1) The only screaming he does these days is
within
his own mind, and (2) He always knew he was meant to fly.
"Contact,"
by Anne-Cara
He is never alone. They torment him,
mock
him, argue with him, analyze his actions as if he weren't supporting
their
lives. Only one thing can quiet them, the one thing he can't
truly
have.
"Winter's
Hinterland,"
by Ninamonkey
Holidays are bad enough
without seeing
your ex-girlfriend with someone new.
"Down the
Rabbit
Hole," By Mara Greengrass
Four possible faces of Scott Summers.
"Abnormality,"
by Jon Seitzer
Loving someone is never normal, especially
when
you compare it to an ocean.
"Nightmares,"
by Alia
Some problems only have absolute answers.
"Sacrifice
Served," "Dance
with
the Devil," and "When
I'm
Gone," by Tracy
(1) An angel has lost his wings [post X1], and
(2)
For what would a man give up his soul?
(3) The current third is an unrelated additional story: when you
love
someone, you are the ultimate sacrifice.
"One More
Face,"
by Bekka
A morphing mutant takes drastic steps towards
a
future she's not sure she wants.
"Broken
Home,"
by Alara Rogers
Because divorce is hell on the kids, even the
grown
ones. (Focuses on Scott & Erik)
"Let You
See
Me," by Neva Caruso
The good guys sticks around ... unless he can
only
prove it by leaving.
"Brass
Knuckles,"
by Bounce
"An
Occasional
Slip," by RaeDances
"Beauty
and
the Beast," by Devin Harris
Scott's introspection on his powers (vignette)
"Fallout,"
"The
Seeds
Bear Fruit," and "Startling,"
by Wyzeguy
(1) Sometimes even powerswapped abilities
aren't enough to change a conflict's outcome. (Takes place during X1), (2) Magneto muses on his past
history
with Xavier's School, as years of careful planning produce interesting
results
(post X1, followup to
"Fallout.") (3) Scott returns to the mansion ... and brings the rest of
the Brotherhood with him. (Jean's POV)
"Quiet"
and "An
Eye for an Eye for an Eye," by TrollPrincess
(1) Scott loves Jean, even if he can't say it,
and
(2) the line to kiss Jean hello forms to the left.
"So Many
Ways
to Say I Love You," by Katta Hjärpe
In certain situations, a weakness can be an
asset.
 "Wrong
Turn,"
by Catecumen
A traveler reflects upon her unexpected
destination.
"Under
the Stairs," by Dex
Xavier's most useful monsters live under the
stairs,
only to emerge when they can be denied.
"Spot,
the Vampire Cat," by Bynon Carget
"A Touch of
Freedom,"
by Naomi Kraus
Sometimes you need to close a door to free
your
mind and body.
"Trapped
in
the Ice," by Eleanor Jane
Scott needs
Jean
to remain human; what does Jean need?
"The Tyranny
of
Distance," by innle
Scott can't reach. Part Three of "Four Things
Cyclops
Never Saw," which is worth reading in full.
"Secret
Weapons," by Andraste
Charles
Xavier
will do what whatever is nedcessary to protect his homd and family.
"Marie, Marie, Quite Contrary" and "tyger,
tyger, burning bright," by paradigm Seven
(1) "I've been
good, don't you see, I've been good and haven't tried to mess with
their heads
and I haven't tried to leech them dry and I haven't done anything wrong
except
being me." (2) "He needs this," she remembered the professor
saying,
oh so many years ago.
"Left
Behind," "Hatred"
and "Cocaphony
of Silence," by Frosty
(1) Ever feel like the weather is ganging up
on you? Scott does. (2) There is always hope, even in the
darkest
situations. (3) Sometimes it's not good to talk. It's even
worse to scream.
"Heart
of
Darkness," by Rossi
In a time of tension after Stryker's attack,
Jean
visits their secret weapon in the basement.
 How the Leopard Changed Her Spots, by
Minisinoo
A different Scott, a
different Jean. Montague and Capulet. This retelling of X1 consists of four stories: "Till
We Have Faces," "He Who Has Ears to Hear," "How the Leopard Changed Her
Spots," and "A Rose by Any Other Name Still Has Thorns."
"Weapon
X," by Sigil
Hope was offered to an out-of-control mutant,
but
the price was freedom. (Set in X2)
"The
Amazing
Scott," "The
Amazing
Scott II," "X-Men:
Legacy,"
and "Two
Origin
Stories," by Turlock
(1)
Scott reminisces about his power's origin while being bored in the
mansion
and waiting for Jean to return from a mission. (2-4) more in the TAS
world.
"Twenty-Four
Hours (of Silent Agony)," by Faechick
"Drawing
in
a Mirror," by C. Elisa
"If you know what is going to happen to people, and not
what has happened to
them, it makes it difficult to prevent it happening, if you don't want
it
to have happened, if you see what I mean? Like drawing in a
mirror."
(Merlyn in The Once and Future King)
"Hands
of
a Healer," by Renjenri
All surgeons learn that this is not an ideal world.
"Form and
Illusion,"
by ShalNyx
"Simple,"
by Stefanie
After a member of the X-Men is kidnapped, the
professor
sends Scott out to rescue her.
"Le Chateau
des
Pyrenees," by TangledAria
"There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is
always
the same."
"Kneeling
Demon"
and "Salvation,"
by Nadja Lee
1) "Even a demon can fall on bended knee before an angel," 2) "I can
save
these people; it's both my right and my duty."
"Musings
of a Troubled Mutant," by Yo
"They
All Fall Down," by Just Like Rogue
A doctor in a pysch ward meets a new patient.
"Origins
of a Slightly Different Perspective," by A.J.
Sometimes even the most tragic events can lead to something wonderful
... or something far worse.
"Beginnings,"
by Crys Clouse
A different Scott comes to the mansion and meets a different Charles
for the first time. (This was especially inspired by the convo about
how Charles and the school could work if Charles wasn't a
Telepath.) One part up so far.
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