M A G N E T O & P R O F E S S O R X
♦ C H A R L E S X A V I E R ♦ E R I K L E H N S H E R R ♦
♦ X A V I E R I N S T I T U T E F O R T A L E N T E D Y O U T H ♦
♦ N O R T H S A L E M // N E W Y O R K ♦
C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:
"Mutatis mutandis."
Upon disclosing the existence of a mutant gene to the general public, there was an alarming spike in hate speech and hate-based incidents targeting mutants that lasted for a decade. With seemingly no other option, the FBI secretly approached a well-known and respected Professor Charles Xavier with the request to house and teach young mutants "for the welfare of humanity and the whole world." Xavier reluctantly agreed to use his ancestral mansion on the outskirts of New York as its sanctuary with government financial assistance for improvements and upkeep. Using a pseudonym, Professor X rescued several mutants and began to train them by the beginning of the 1980s.
At the same time, the Brotherhood of Mutants emerged from the shadows to achieve mutant superiority alongside its revered leader: Erik Lehnsherr. Upon discovering his old cherished friend was the leader, Xavier planned on privately confronting him in hopes of achieving peace through dialogue. But the FBI learned of the scheme and threatened him with the detainment of faculty for "being sponsors of terror." Afraid for their safety, Professor X yielded to the threat and ultimately cooperated with authorities with knowledge of Lehnsherr's abilities to his disdain.
For nine years, hundreds of mutated children were housed in state-of-the-art dormitories, taught by some of the best instructors in the country, and protected from anti-mutant hate. Still, even as the first students graduated, sustained anti-mutant sentiment among the general public viewed them as a menace. It eventually led the Reagan Administration to act decisively in its final months to shut down the school by pulling funding entirely. However, the school kept its doors open thanks to support from the faculty (and a few anonymous donors). But the response was severe.
An old contact within the FBI alerted Professor Xavier of a planned raid to arrest the professor and faculty under accusations of collaborating with the Brotherhood. Xavier instructed all students and faculty to evacuate while he negotiated an agreement with the federal government. Instead of meeting with negotiators, he was met with authorities intended to arrest the professor. Xavier was shot in an ensuing struggle and would've been left to bleed if his old friend didn't save him. Erik, who recently escaped from a prison transport van, sought a secluded place for his friend to heal.
Both friends spent twenty-three years in complete isolation from the world to heal physical and mental wounds. It wasn't until the Chitauri invaded the planet for subjugation made Xavier and Lehnsherr reconsidered their decades-long social isolation. But it was only Magneto that returned to public life in an attempt to rally other mutants against the invading force. His efforts were so triumphant that his criminal record was expunged, and he was offered a place in the newly formed Avengers. And yet, Magneto rejected the offer and returned to solitude with a promise that he would return with a "dear friend."
Slowly but surely, Erik kept his promise and brought Professor Xavier back to public life with the purpose of restoring the former Xavier Estate to its former glory. Their hidden agenda was the re-energized crusade against the alarming resurgence of anti-mutant sentiment. When Robert Kelly was declared the winner of the 2020 election, Xavier announced that his estate was a sanctuary for mutants endangered by any legislation. Then in a frightening escalation, Kelly announced support of the Mutant Control Act, a law that would undoubtedly target mutants indiscriminately.
So in response, both Xavier and Lehnsherr publicly announced the reopening of Xavier's Institue along with the formation of the X-Men in a last frantic attempt to achieve the dream of peaceful co-existence between humans and mutants. The team would be under the leadership of a reformed Magneto. At the same time, the school's principal is a redetermined Professor X. Both men are more than qualified to withstand the impending danger from the Kelly Administration, the new Brotherhood of Mutants, and the Neo-Purifiers. But are they prepared for it?
C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:
It has been fun coming up with ideas and concepts for both the X-Men and Xavier Institute. The character dynamics of Charles and Erik will heavily lean towards rekindled confidantes for their decades-long isolation. But there will still be slight friction between them that you'd seen in the movies or read the comics, especially with the rapid development of anti-mutant sentiment within a ten-year period. Nevertheless, Erik will receive much of the spot as the consequences of his past deeds come back to haunt him. While Charles' dedication towards his dream will be strained, never before seen—not even since the 1980s.
As for the mechanics, the X-Men are (by the present day) relatively newcomers to being vigilantes, while Xavier Institute is starting its first year with its future uncertain. Erik will be the leader of the X-Men, not in the traditional sense. He will debrief them on missions and practice with them in the danger room. Occasionally, he will tag along in a rescue mission or whenever the matter requires his utmost attention. Charles will be the principal of the Xavier Institute and the unofficial representative of mutantkind. His days are now spent overseeing the school operations, teaching students to maintain their abilities, and offering counseling services during these difficult times.
In short, if someone's planning on a character joining the X-Men, they can write short stories/arcs with other members without much worry. That way, I don't need so many iconic X-Men members to worry about, and people can write them. Just message me if you have plans with anyone, especially the older characters who themselves could've been students and faculty of the former school. As for Xavier Institute, someone is more than free to write a student or faculty without worrying about stepping on my toes. I have plans concerning some faculty and students that play a significant part in the overall story. But feel free to ask me about a specific character you'd wish to write and/or have as a supporting cast.