As if touring the Palais de Genovia wasn't enough, the X-men found themselves on the way to Carmina, and the new palace built there for the benefit of Genovia's newest noble, the Duchess Tina.
"The Palace only finished construction a couple of weeks ago," said Pierre. "You should feel privlaged, as you are the first members of the public to be invited to the Duchess Tina's home."
"Cool," said Geri.
"Way cool," Queenie agreed.
The bus soon pulled up at the gates, and the X-men piled out. They all looked at the palace in awe.
Tina
Tina walked down her long circular staircase into the foyer. She was excited to see some of her friends from New York.
"Hey!" she called, excited ly, "I'm glad you guys could come visiting!"
"Hey Tina," Micah said. "We're glad you invited us."
"Well," Tina said, "I should show you guys araound. Mia and I had some great ideas, and she hired this awesome architect. I have a movie room, a library, an amazing kitchen, and all sorts of other stuff," she gestured to her front foyer, which was decorated completely in pinks and purples.
Rogue
"It's very... pink and purply," Geri said.
"I approve," Queenie said.
"You would. It matches you."
Queenie grinned.
"So, we're the first ones, huh?" Rogue asked. "Feeling privalged."
Tina
"Absolutely. So, is anyone hungry? The chef is amazing, although I like to cook for myself sometimes."
"I could eat," Micah said, his wings fluttering slightly behind him.
Shannon
"You could always eat," Arthur commented.
"Well, it is lunch time," Geri pointed out.
"I believe this is a yes," Shannon replied patiently.
Tina
"Groovy," Tina said, and lead the way toward the kitchen. Her chef, Dorothy, had already started to make hot chips, and then started making panini's to order, (sandwiches with any bread, cheese, and meat, toasted until the cheese melts). Tina asked for a roast been a swiss cheese panini on white bread, and told everyone to place their order. Dorothy was so good, she never missed a beat.
X-men
The mutants gave their orders to the chef.
"I love your place, Tina. It's so awesome," Queenie said.
Tina
"Thanks," Tina said. "I love it too. I think it was absolutely awesome of Mia to make me a noble, and help me design this awesome awesome place. There are duties, though. I have to make appearances and go to events, and go to Parliament sessions. I've become a legal citizen of Genovia, which makes me happy, because now my family can't try to smuggle me out."
"Did they really try to do that?" Micah asked, wide-eyed.
"Yeah, well, first my grandmother showed up on my birthday and surprised me with my own wedding, trying to make me marry a boy I'd ever met. And after Mia politely informed her that arranged marriages had been made illegal here, she pitched a fit and tried to have me smuggled out. My father's been staying out of it. Luckily, he'd already set up a trust fund for me, because the rest of his family has cut me off."
"That's horrible," Micah said. "My dad's a deadbeat, so I almost never see him, and my mom passed away. My big sister takes care of my little brother, but if I didn't get to see them or talk top them, I'd go crazy."
"It's okay," Tina said, "I talk to my parents and brothers on the phone, and my life is out here anyway. But I've also been working on starting up foundations and doing philanthropic work. It's a lot of fun, helping people."
X-men
"That's awesome," said Geri.
"Sucks about your grandmother though," Queenie said. "Seriously, who arranges marriages? That is so dark ages."
Tina
"Well, conservative Muslims, apparently. I, however, am not Muslim, but try telling that to my Grandmother. Oy." Dorothy handed out plates with everyone's sandwhich, and a huge plate of hot chips. Tina carried everything out to the big kitchen table.
"There's a small dining room upstairs, and a big dining hall for parties, but usually, I just eat here in the kitchen," she said. "I like to read, and talk to Dorothy, and hide from my ladies maids. Thankfully, mine are a bit less annoying than Mia's."
Mia
Mia poked her tongue out at Tina in a very unPrincess-like fashion.
"Why do you want to hide from your ladies maids?" asked Queenie.
"Yeah, I think it'll be cool to have maids and live in a palace and stuff," Geri added.
Tina
Tina laughed. "Well, once Mia got them to stop curtseying everywhere, they're easier to bear. They're just a little clingy. But if you guys would like, you can stay here for the next school holidays. There's lots of room, and I can get a bit lonely at times."
Micah smiled. He hoped that invitation included him as well.
Shannon
"That would be awesome," said Queenie.
"Do you think the professor would let us?" Geir said hopefully, looking at Rogue and Shannon.
"It is possible," Shannon replied. "After all, he did allow this trip to give you a chance to get out of the mansion for awhile, as you do not have other homes to go home to."
"Yay!" Geri cheered.
Tina
"Yay indeed," Tina said, as she reached for some chips. "How about we forgo the tour after this, and go watch a movie. I have an awesome collection," she suggested.
X-men
"Sounds good to me," said Arthur.
"Wow, are we lucky," Queenie said. "First we get to hang out in a Princess's palace, and now a Duchess' palace. Awesome."
"Absolutely," Geri agreed.
Tina
Tina grinned, and led everyone to her movie room. She had a huge screen and a giant collection of movies.
"Any requests?" she asked letting the visitors check out her movie collection. She also had a tiny kitchenette in her movie room, with a fridge/freezer, popcorn popper and microwave, for snacks.
X-men
"Fantastic Four."
"Romeo and Juliet!"
"I know what you did last summer."
"Titanic."
"Castaway."
At this list of titles all pretty much shouted out at the same time, the students turned on each other:
"Why would you want to watch that movie? It's stupid!"
"I hate scary movies."
"Leo D'Caprio sucks."
"You are such a freak."
"Boring!"
Tina
"Actually," Tina said, pausing. "Leo Di'Caprio sucks a lot. Considering he's been turned into a vampire."
"How about Spider-Man?" Tina suggested.
Ending by Michelle
Everyone was agreeable, and they settled down to watch the movie together. All in all it was a rather unusual tour.