"Silver Shadow, Apex, what have you learned? Shayera? Skuld? What are you seeing in there?"
Wingblade taps her communicator. "I think I just interrupted an episode of The Office. But played by robots. Exploring further."
Wait, the old tv show? Really? The one with Mindy Kaling and what's-his-name/Jack Ryan-actor? Arrgh! How's Bran supposed to get a reference like that? Okay - don't ask yet, she's 'exploring further,' and it's not exactly like you've got some crucial insight you're holding back.
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Skuld is momentarily taken aback by the charge of the Goblin creatures, but she quickly uses the car as a combination battering ram and baseball bat, using it to clear a side to climb out into the courtyard proper.
Bellowing, as she catches one of the Goblins in her right hand (her left now holding the somewhat demolished car), she tossed him into a pack of his encroaching comrades, knocking them down like bowling pins.
Finally having a moment to catch her breath, Skuld bellows out to the castle before her "I am Skuld, daughter of Thor, and I hereby accept the challenge of your assault on the city I have vowed to defend. Let your leader come and face me, that we might battle toe-to-toe and eye-to-eye. Should you flee in fear, I shall rain divine vengeance down upon your castle the likes of which you have never seen before!"
Only in Halcyon could goblins battling robots in the street eventually fade into the mists of memory. Only a few months later, it's yet another story in the annals of the city's residents, another insurance claim made, another pretty good excuse to be late to work, another reminder that the world is bigger and stranger than any one person could ever comprehend.
Time certainly hasn't stopped while the city was blanketed in snow, but now, winter has passed, and spring is arriving, a time for all the changes and beginnings of life!
Kaoru scowled as her mom inspected her appearance, glaring darkly at a point on the floor and refusing to meet the other woman's gaze.
"I really wish you hadn't cut your hair, dear. It used to be so beautiful and long." Naomi tried to reach out to brush a few strands out of her daughter's eyes, but Kaoru jerked back out of reach. A sense of sorrow welled up in the older woman's chest -- when had they turned into this? -- but she refrained from pursuing the action. "You have everything you need? Books, paper, pencils?" She took the resulting eye roll as a yes. She didn't know what else to say but continued to hover, fussing over nothing. "I really wish you had applied to Halcyon Preparatory Academy; it would have looked much better on your college applications." Not to mention they at least have a school uniform. Naomi thought, giving Kaoru's dark, ripped clothing a disapproving stare that was most likely completely missed by her daughter. "Maybe you could do that for the fall?" Silence. She gave a resigned sigh. "Well, have a good day at school. I -" Sensing the implicit dismissal, Kaoru practically bolted out the front door before her mom could finish. "- love you."
-----
Once she got reasonably out of sight of their new "home," Kaoru slowed her pace somewhat. Nervousness and anxiety began to replace annoyance and frustration as she picked idly at her clothes while she walked. She was pretty sure her plan would work. She had practiced talking in a lower voice (it wasn't too hard since she was already on the lower end of the spectrum for girls anyway) and done a couple, or rather several, dry runs. Managed to get a few 'sirs' from serving staff. Even managed to convince herself to try walking into a men's restroom (nobody had reacted, which was a good sign, but she nevertheless regretted the decision; there were things that simply couldn't be unseen). She would have loved to try some more involved interaction -- maybe by flirting with some cute girls to see if they bought her act -- but there were a million other reasons for them to have rejected her, so it wouldn't have exactly been usable data.
Frustrated she ran a hair through her short hair. It still felt kind of weird, but also really nice. Light. Like a weight had been lifted from her, both literally and metaphorically. But...maybe not the best choice in the middle of winter... Or was it spring now? It still felt like winter to her. She shivered slightly as the cold air blew across her unprotected neck. She would need to invest in a scarf. Or would a scarf not go with her new look? She looked down at her black ripped jeans (perhaps another mistake), metal ringed belt, long-sleeved deep red t-shirt, and black short-sleeved button-up. She was pretty sure it would give off the correct impression: a light air of goth/punk/emo chic (without delving too deep into the subculture) that would give off that effortless, uncaring vibe she was going for. Even if she had spent hours mixing and matching after still more hours online shopping to get it. Throw in a couple of rings and a studded bracelet accessory, and she thought she pulled off the look rather well. Unfortunately, it wasn't the warmest outfit, and she shivered once again. She quickly pulled a black jacket out of her bag and put it on, increasing her pace as she did so. After fastening the buttons, she quickly turned up the collar and shoved her hands into her pockets.
Lost in her own thoughts and worries, it wasn't long before Halcyon High appeared into view. Her nervousness continued to climb as she approached. Well, it can't get any worse than they already did, right? The thought comforted her. Right until she saw the metal detectors barring her entryway. Jesus Christ, they need metal detectors?! Perhaps she should have applied to Halcyon Prep. But, well, they had a uniform, and she wasn't sure about their policy on girls wearing pants. And if she made a big fuss out of it then her mom would start asking uncomfortable questions about why it was so important she not wear a skirt. Well, note to self: don't bring my exacto knives to school.
She glanced around, looking for directions to the office. She was pretty sure she was supposed to meet some of the other new students there for someone or another to tell them...something. She hadn't really been paying attention. Eventually finding it, she stops short, suddenly realizing she was the first one there. Fcccckkkkk She had meant to be late. But, well, between fleeing her mother and the cold weather, it looked like she had arrived before any of the other students she was supposed to be meeting with. She flopped heavily down in one of the chairs to wait and silently seethe.
Cassie finished applying the last of her lipstick and inspected herself in the small bathroom mirror. Her sharp angular features, framed by her jet black hair and large dark eyes were well set off by the subtle-ish makeup and she nodded in satisfaction before her eyes were drawn inevitably downwards to the long red scar running vertically between her breasts, an indelible reminder of That night. Had it only been a month? It seemed a lot longer.
A sudden knock on the bathroom door, intruded on her thoughts and the annoyingly jolly voice of Gabriel pulled her attention back to the present. ”Hurry up Cassandra. You don’t want to be late for school on your first day! Besides, other people need to use the potty. Get a hurry on!”
Cassie sighed. She didn’t exactly like the name ‘Cassandra’, but it was worth using it to stay under her mother’s radar. Better than using her real name, ‘Cassiphone’ at any rate, and at least she could keep calling herself ‘Cassie’. A month ago it would have seemed absurd that such a minor name change could keep her identity secret, but now that she had a little knowledge of how the obfuscating hexes worked, she knew that it was actually more effective than a change to something more different. Well, she sort of understood anyway. In any case, it seemed to work for Gabriel. Gabriel Teak,.. Miss Teak,.. Mystic. The sorceress (never ‘witch’) had laughed for a full minute when she’d told her. She was always so,…. Jolly. It was annoying as hell!
”Just a minute.” Cassie shouted back, pulling her white shirt over her shoulder s and quickly buttoning it up before turning and opening the door to find Gabriel standing and smiling with her stupid smile plastered across her face. ”My, don’t you look lovely today” said the short , garishly dressed woman. ”Breakfast’s on the kitchen table. You remember how to get to School? Brilliant! I’ve packed your bag, and a nice sandwich for lunch. Now, remember, try not to draw too much attention to yourself. The wards are strong but they can only do so much. You’ve got the amulet? Of course you have. Now, out of the way, my bowels are playing merry havoc with me this morning so I shan’t see you off. Have a lovely day, and remember to give me a call if you need anything.” With that, the dumpy woman had pushed past her and closed the door, followed by a rustle of clothes and a clearly audible fart and a loud sigh. Cassie turned away and, ignoring the smell of bacon coming from the kitchen (Bacon? It’s no wonder she can’t lose weight!), picked up her bag and headed for the small apartment’s door.
Half an hour later, Cassie found herself staring up at the scatter of buildings that made up Halcyon High. It was nothing like her old school, which had occupied extensive grounds upstate with scattered stone buildings dating back to the 19th century, but she’d seen schools like it on TV of course, so it wasn’t totally unfamiliar. Glancing around at the other students (did these people have no fashion sense at all?), she strode forward into the building (Metal detectors? What even is this place?) and, after a few wrong turns, managed to find her way top the office, where she’d been told to go to be shown her locker, get her timetable and a whole lot of other boring administrative things that she’d pretty much ignored when Gabriel had read out the letter.
Peering into the office foyer, she saw one other student waiting there already, an emo kid by the looks of him. Sighing again, she stepped forward and, without speaking, slipped into one of the unoccupied chairs on the other side of the room, smoothed her short skirt and pulled out her phone, using it to, first, check her makeup and then just to surf the web whilst she waited.
-Completely unacceptable behavior. And on your first day back too! the shrill voice of Mrs. wood, the Vice principal, comes from her office, already telling a student off.
Look, I said I'm sorry. And he started a rather unpleasant rumor about me. i went a little overboard. another voice, largely disinterested, replied.
I think this is beyond "a little overboard". If what he and Miss Jaqueline reported are accurate, you called him a-
Herpes-ridden Son-of-a-B!&*$, with the same mental capacity as a Labrador. The second voice supplies, A little more enthusiastic this time
Yes, Miss Walker. That. As per usual, you get one warning per semester. consider this yours. Mrs. Wood says, stern.
Out of the office walks a girl, sophomore by the look of her, wearing quite formal clothes. dark hair in a braid behind her. she takes a swig from a travel mug, and sighs with relief.
Her green eyes go over the two others in the room. Narrow facial structure, Short hair. medium build, hygenic. Gait and stance all masculine. Female, likely identifies as male. She smiles at the new boy, the picture of the sweet schoolgirl looking over a cute guy.
Her eyes find the second. Bored, or shy. not enough data. careful dress, but constantly adjusting, might be OCD, but is sitting very off for that. likely unused to current style of dress. Trying to change her identity with a new school. Neither move like they are physically enhanced.
New kids. probably sophomores. I'm sure the chipper little triathlete will be over to show you around. But, she probably won't mention a few things. 1, if you have Gladly's Algebra, you cna just ignore everything he says. dude is basically blind, and it's easy as hell to use a phone during class or the tests. 2, i you're gonna smoke, use the guys room in the 4th floor east, or the girls room in the 3rd floor south she points to Kaoru and Cassie respectively as she says these and, you. she points to Cassie There are at least of couple Kleptos who frequent the girls locker room. Don't leave anything there with any value.
Cassie looked up from her screen at the other girl's voice, quickly looking her up and down. Seems OK. At least she's not dressed like some kind've sad sack emo/punk wannabe, she's not a goody two-shoes either.
Cassie gave a friendly smile. "Thanks. That's good to know. I guess you can't trust anyone in a place like this? My name's Cassandra, Cassie for short." she replies, placing a slight emphasis on 'Cassandra', as if to underline the name. "Any other tips? Are they, like, full-on about taking the roll? How hard is it to, you know, skip out or whatever?"
There were scant-few times that Shaun MacGregor hated the sound of The Flower of Scotland. 6 A.M. was one of those times.
There was more than a little fumbling across the nightstand as he tried to find his phone, knocking over a few empty "soda" bottles and fast food wrappers. After succeeding only in sending the cell tumbling under the bed, bagpipes still blaring, he reluctantly untangled himself from his (slightly) blood-stained sheets.
Last night had been...well, not a disaster, but it had gotten pretty close. The thugs in Halcyon it turned out were a bit tougher than the one's back home. A would-be mugger had busted out some sort of ice power. Bit of a shock to say the least. It worked out, Ice Guy was currently under police supervision at Halcyon General getting his broken collar bone fixed, but it had been a little too close. Literally.
The third stitch had come out in his sleep. The wound wasn't anywhere important, just his lower-left ribs, but it hurt like hell. More importantly, it was yet another stain on the sheets. Shaun sighed as he replaced the stitch in the bathroom mirror. It was bad enough that he had lost his last shortsword in the move, now he needed to go find a new no-questions laundromat.
6:20. At this rate he was gonna be late. Not that he cared, but if his old man caught him anywhere else on the first friggin' day, he could say good-bye to anything resembling free will. In any case, time to get ready. Brush teeth, deodorant, floss, comb hair...er, maybe wash this time. It was hard to tell due to his particular shade of red, but he was pretty certain there was some dried blood in there. Check chin and lips (STILL no beard!?), grab a clean tank-top and pants, combat boots on, temp outside is...jacket-worthy (the MacGregor tartan one of course), time is 6:40, really gotta go. Last steps: grab The Kit, wipe the blood off The Kit (How in the f+!#...?), grab wallet, grab emergency switchblade, and last but not least grandpa's flat-cap. One last check, then out the window and down the drain pipe.
- - -
A metal detector? Seriously? These people live in a city where anyone could be a walking bomb, and they just have a metal detector? That's hilarious. Round back of the school, good-old heave over the fence, walk on through and boom, one Kit inside school grounds. Nobody even seemed to question the rectangular backpack. Probably though it was a cello case or something like that.
That being said, Shaun himself certainly drew a few looks. Hard not to do when you're already 5'11" at 16 (C'mon over 6-foot...!), rocking red hair, dressed in a plaid hoodie, and as burly as a quarterback. His natural smile was a full-on grin this morning. Pain or no pain, in costume or not, he loved this. Standing out, getting attention, making them SEE him. Worked out for them too; when he got the opportunity, he was gonna show them what he lugging around in The Kit. But that was for later. For now...where the hell was that office?
- - -
Five minutes latter, he finally found the place. Not the most spacious of places, 'specially with the three other occupants, but whatever. The other guy in the room, a skinny guy who looked like he was trying way too hard to look like he wasn't trying to look like anything. The two girls seemed nice enough, a goth-looking doll and someone who probably embraced the archetype of a tight-ass, but...what had the goth just said? "Sorry, wha' was that doll?"
Cassie glances up at the newcomer and gives him a withering look. "Doll? Seriously?"
Skipping's not too hard. Most classes don't consistently take roll, though a couple do. unfortunately counting History. Alexandra says, And, I didn't tell you, but Mr. Wilson, the American Lit. teacher,tends to disappear, and come back glassey-eyed. Not a bad time to skip out.
Then another comes in. Wearing a f$!!ing Kilt. Not much care about others. loud, started with Doll. belligerent, ready to get in a fight or two. favouring his left side, already has been in one. better to take this one down a peg or three.
I was instructiong the other two newbies in some finer points of Halcyon high's etiquette and proprieties. Quick tip, Call Bianca a doll, and you'll be vomitting your own teeth up for a week. Also, my advice would be to mind your tongue around Quincy, and Sy, both of them grew up in oldtown, and I suspect they both know how to sneak a knife past the metal detectors. She says Gods know I can.
And, My name is Alexandra. Shorten it to Alex at your own Peril.
"Ah don' take it ta wrong way lass! Doll mean's beaut'ful." He drops the Kit into one seat before taking one of his own next to it. "Name's Shaun, Alex. And ah, those Quinc and Sy ya mention? They ain't ta only ones with knives." He shoots Alexandra a mischievous smile. This town might have some bright bulbs in it yet...
These days Bronwyn usually had the early-morning makeup practices to herself. Not that she was totally alone, but since Marco didn't make a point of joining her every morning anymore, she was mostly running with the dregs of the team, the slackers who needed to make sure they didn't quite get cut from the roster.
It meant she had to pay a lot more attention. Without a talented runner to pace herself against, it was too easy to look like she wasn't really trying, or worse, how little she needed to try.
She wasn't actually behind on any of her practices at the moment, but she knew that that just meant she had the opportunity to bank some goodwill for the next time things got busy. Banked goodwill doesn't spend so well, but better that than nothing.
For the first month, her friend Ronnie had doubled up on practices, trying to serve as the bridge for a rapprochement with Marco, but after a few weeks of both of them giving her no details, of just hearing that "we wanted different things," she'd given it up and reclaimed her mornings.
All those reasons meant morning practice hadn't been as fun recently, but today was different, today was special! Spring break was over, and that meant Shayera was coming back today!
God it's been a long week.
Just keep moving forward. Every lap you finish is one closer.
***
A quick shower was quite necessary before she made it to the admin office. It took a lot to wear her out (she only slept a couple hours a night when she couldn't avoid her dreams any longer), but whatever divine stamina she was tapping into didn't keep her from working up a sweat after a few hours.
So she was about a minute late to the office, short hair still damp, but in a much neater top and shorts than she'd recently ditched (White and black with a broad yellow stripe respectively).
Okay, new people, and not just new people, mid-semester transfers. That means they're more likely to have been expelled or something, and Halcyon being Halcyon, they're more likely to be super heroes or super villains. But that's just all the more reason to get to know them!
She opened the door with a big smile on her face
"Hi guys! Oh, and hi Alexandra. I'm Bronwyn, and you must be Kaoru, Shaun, and... Cassandra." A flicker of uncertainty ran through her eyes when she looked at Cassandra. For a second there I thought I saw... Nah, must've just been a weird trick of the light.
"Welcome to Halcyon High! I've got a free period, so I'll be happy to show you guys around and answer any questions you've got. Or at least point you towards the right people to talk to if I don't know. Sound good?"
Wonder what the big guy did. Cassandra's giving him the stink eye already...
Kaoru tensed as out of her periphery she saw someone approach. A girl? That's what the clothing vaguely looked like. Or at least the shoes and lower legs. But she didn't look up from where she was staring determinedly at the floor. She started playing through lines he had rehearsed earlier, but the girl just sat down without saying anything. Kaoru felt relieved. And...was that a hint of disappointment? She wasn't sure why.
She didn't have time to analyze when yelling erupted from the office. Her discomfort grew when she discovered the reason for the raised voices -- a rumor, started by a boy, revenge -- but she couldn't help but contain a snort of amusement, both at the 'overreaction' (Really, an insult is an overreaction?) and the girl's response (really, more her tone the insult was repeated in rather than the insult itself). She quickly wipes the slight smirk off her face as she catches sight of people exiting the office.
She finally looks up when insult-girl starts talking. She can't help the disgust microexpression that flicks across her face at the mention of smoking. God, people even smoke indoors here? She was also very glad that a note from her "doctor" excused her from all gym/PE/locker room related required events. It was kind of a half-true note. She had had one at her old school: her mom had been against any physical activity that might hurt her hands and wreck her chances of being a surgeon concert musician software engineer. Or whatever it was her mom had in mind.
As the first girl introduces herself, a voice in Kaoru's head comments "Cassandra. One who predicts misfortune or disaster. Reference to the daughter of Priam, endowed with the gift of prophecy but fated never to be believed." Fking SAT vocab prep.
Her eyes then flick to the new guy - Shaun - before quickly flicking back to Alexandra, curious how she would respond to him so blatantly ignoring her request for him to use her full name. "Not sure insults will cut it with this one. But if you go that route, perhaps use small, easily understandable words. For his benefit."
Then yet another person entered the room. The 'chipper little triathlete' no doubt. I wonder what spo- Nope! Don't care. She half-shrugged non-committally at her question before returning her focus to Alexandra and Shaun.
New girl coming in now. Definitely an athlete of some kind, way nicer in tone than the goth or tight-ass. Shaun opens his mouth to reply, then the totally-not-trying try-er chimes in. "I do 'ave a question lass: what's ta policy on goin' a round with a twig who don't know when ta stay out of a convasation that ain't his?"
"Well, depends on how you feel about being put on a government no-fly list and never getting to see Scotland, 'laddie'." Somehow she managed to keep her face neutral as mentally she kicked herself. Seriously, K? You're bringing that up on the first day of school? The guy could kick your ass! Though you would then probably ruin the rest of his life for it. And then promptly need to leave this school too. But maybe if you keep if vague about how exactly he'd end up on the no-fly list it'll be ok...
"School's and my policy's pretty clear on that one, Shaun. Good way to end up with a broken wrist and a suspension." Bronwyn smiled like it was a big joke to take the edge off the threat.
"If anyone's looking for a better way to channel the excess testosterone though, I'm happy to show you around the different sports teams."
Okay, a hothead and a hacker. Great. Maybe I should have Shayera keep an eye on Kaoru with Abacus. I don't know anything about how to watch for that stuff.
Alexandra smiles as Bronwyn comes in. Girl was f*&%ing unnaturally chipper at 8 am, but sweet in a "good girl" kinda way.
I agree. Alexandra says to the smirking goth. Though, A no fly list seems...excessive. Best to just ignore him. With that, she steps past Shaun, pushing him gently out of her way. On his left side.
She Smiles at the other two, and turns to go. Take care of 'em, B. And if the redhead gives you trouble, Me and Sy know a place in oldtown where no one would ever find him.
Shaun's head darts about. To the try-er, a raised eyebrow and a sudden re-evaluation. He's gotta be talking trash...right? To the athlete, a bemused expression. "Thanks for ta' offer, but I doubt I'll be needin' any more ah, channeling outlets. But, just for ta helluvit, you lot got any martial arts a' wrestlin'?"
As much as he tries not to, Shaun visibly finches when his side is poked. "Real funny tight-arse. But good luck ignorin' me! Gimme another month round 'ere, I'll be ta talk of ta town!" he shouts after her. "Absolute b%##&...how'd she know...?"
"Well. Seems like you might need some more. We do have a wrestling team, and if you're serious about the martial arts I could ask around for some reasonable dojos." She gave Shaun's tender side a glance. "I can add the nurse's office to the list too."
"But come on guys, let's get a move on!" Bronwyn reached out to offer a hand to Kaoru and beckoned to Cassie where she sat across the room.
She gave her phone a quick glance, "Okay, it'll be a little tight, but I should be able to show you guys where all your different classes are. No reason to be late, right? Even if you feel like you're 'stuck here', or whatever, might as well find the good parts right? So come on, ask your questions - I promise, not every answer's going to involve joining a team." It's so much easier to do this when there's just one person. Even the shy ones'll come out of their shell one-on-one. Maybe I can get them to open up if I can find something shiny for Shaun to look at?
"More serious then y'know doll..." He stands up slowly, picking up his Kit. "Don' bother with ta nurse. I can take care'a myself. Let's jus' get this o'er with."
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Abacus came to life at the appointed time in the morning, rattling off details of her day ahead -- class schedule, the weather, traffic reports, any new cape or mask phenomena over the night. 李秀英 rises, taking a moment to realize she was back in her own massive bed in her cavernous penthouse apartment.
Her father's private jet had arrived late last night, and she was still wearing the qipao from the mission earlier that day so she couldn't take flight. The ride back from the airport had made her evening even later. She had basically crashed.
Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she suddenly remembers that she'd be going back to school today. A surge of adrenaline and excitement wakes her up fully and she starts her morning routine.
================
The roar of the high-performance sports car turns the heads of the students arriving at the high school. The gleaming machine pulls up to the curb and the door opens to let out its passenger: a Chinese girl in a pink qipao with bright red flowers. She takes off her large-frame sunglasses and tucks them in a side purse as she waves briefly to the driver, then turns to stride confidently into the school while the sports car roars as it pulls away.
李秀英 weaves her way through the crowds, waving and smiling at the various familiar faces that greet her. Since she still had a few minutes before the first warning bell, she makes her way to the favorite spot of Portia's crew -- the courtyard between the main building and the annex. However, she finds them parked out in front of the main office this morning. She smiles genuinely as the other fashionistas react to her dress. They spend a while discussing the wardrobe choices of each other, and all are suitably impressed that Xiu Ying was wearing a dress she bought in China.
"Oh, you should wear that on your next date with Devaun!" Renae says excitedly. "He said he had a great time. You've gotten his texts, right?"
The bright painted smile on Shayera faltered briefly, but she quickly restores it. "I thought -- Oh. Yeah, maybe our schedules will work better this semester." She had managed to deflect Devaun's interest and plans for a second date successfully while she waited for Bronwyn to finally come out to her parents. If she hadn't over the spring break, then the game would have to resume and she wasn't sure she'd be able to put him off for much longer.
"So, we've been scoping out the newest students. There's been several this morning," Portia gets around to explaining about their current location. "Emo goth. Might be cute if he didn't look like he was trying to look like the Cure or something. Plain Jane, boring look, maybe some potential if, like, she wasn't trying to be invisible? Pass. Then a beefcake, but like, he might be a lumberjack or something? Lots of plaid."
"Oh," Shayera says with a shrug, though her stomach flips slightly as she recalls her own first day. Bronwyn might be called on to be the welcoming committee again. She turns her body slightly so that she can see the entrance to the main office out of the corner of her eye.
"What the hell is he doing?"
"Soldier, you're off mission! Get back on po-"
"Oracle, be advised, Mercykiller is rogue, moving to contain-"
"AAAGH- my arm! Bastard took my arm-"
"Mercykiller hostile! Engaging!"
"Mission scrubbed, move to clean up-"
"Holy $÷!+, he jumped off the roof-"
"Lost contact, Oracle! Repeat, Mercykiller is in the wind!"
Alexis opened her eyes to the light, her fingertips and nose and ears cold in the early morning dew. Despite the cardboard box seated here to provide a bit of shelter in this fenced off patch of dirt and grass, she still had moisture all over the heavy tattered coat she was wearing. At least she'd woken up before hitting the ground this time. Remembering how he'd died and she'd escaped was always an awful memory.
She crawled out of her little hovel, glancing at the half dozen other makeshift tents. It was easy to be overlooked here, unseen. It was good for her that she blended on with the young man with the bad teeth and patchy hair, the middle aged woman who talked to her son despite no one being there, the two older men who were decent enough to buy cheap coffee when they got lucky panhandling. They also were kind enough to not try to crawl into her tent at night, not like her first camp.
Those men wouldn't be doing that again.
Now it was time for her morning routine, as she stretched and cracked joints, heading deeper into the wooded area, where a thick branchless tree trunk was rooted stubbornly into the dirt, a thick band of rope stretched around the middle. She shed her coat and stepped up in her dumpster rescued T-shirt and taped together pants, getting into pose. She struck out, fists first hitting the ropes, then feet striking, then elbows and knees. She recalls driving that same knee into some pimp's nose trying to lure her into his car.
Blood and skin were scraped off from her efforts as she concentrates on the exercise, faster and harder as she got more warmed up, sweat matting her already torn up hair and making her shirt stick to her chest. She recalled the first time she was made to kill - and slipped, her fist cracking with a snap into the unprotected wood, leaving a splintered crater that broke through the bark. Her stomach growled, so it was time to hunt her breakfast.
This camp had one other advantage for her, being close to a school full of people close to her in age. She wiped herself down with some paper towels carefully after her workout, before retrieving the cleanest clothes that she managed to salvage. Jeans that required a belt cinched as tight as possible for her tiny waist, a long sleeved shirt she threw a basketball jersey over, and a knit cap over her head. Disguised as such and not smelling like death, she managed to slip into the school with the crowds.
Her goal wasn't the classes, but the cafeteria. People left all sorts of food out and around, and grazing off a few chips, the last of a sandwich, some fries a the bottom of a cup, that was easy enough to do without being noticed. But it also added to her second goal of watching these people and learning what it meant to be young and naive. It was nice to see innocence.
It was nice to pretend she was as innocent as the rest.
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Kaoru maintained her neutral expression. Why did everybody think her reactions were excessive? It's not like she had threatened to label him an all-out terrorist (this time). Though it probably wouldn't be that hard; she had done all the really tricky work last time. Just needed to go back into the school system and find out his full name. She could probably set him up as connected to the IRA; most people didn't really know the difference between the Irish and the Scots anyway. Even though the Irish accent was so much nicer. More musical. Scottish sounded like they were trying to cough up a hairball.
Suddenly her attention snapped back to the athlete...Bronwyn? Good way to end up with a broken wrist and a suspension. She doubted a school could get away with breaking a student's wrist, but surely she wasn't implying she would do that, was she? She looked the girl over again, more carefully. Sure, she was kinda tall. And definitely in shape. But still. She seemed...too happy to be able to issue that kind of threat. That's stupid, K. 'Too happy'? What the hell did that have to do with being able to break someone's wrist? She probably just has martial arts training. Or was joking.
"If anyone's looking for a better way to channel the excess testosterone though, I'm happy to show you around the different sports teams."
The conflict apparently over, Kaoru turned her attention to one of the windows looking out of the waiting room. "Not really into the whole school-spirit, running around half-naked in matching uniforms schtik." Not to mention the myriad of other issues a team sport would supply.
As Bronwyn starts to usher them back out, Kaoru gives her extended hand a wary look as she carefully avoids it. What was the girl's deal? No one was that...whatever that was.
You used to be.
That was just an act. Just because everybody thought that doesn't make it true.
But at least you had friends...
Yeah, and look how well that turned out.
That finally shut the voice up. No, Bronwyn was just putting up a mask like everybody else. That or she was too dumb to have realized how sh*tty the world was yet.
Let's jus' get this o'er with.
"For once I'm in agreement with the Scot."
"Not sure insults will cut it with this one. But if you go that route, perhaps use small, easily understandable words. For his benefit."
Cassie doesn't shift her eyes from her phone but smirks at the Emo kid's words. Maybe he's not too lame after all,... When the big guy threatens him she raises her eyebrow. OK, so he's a bully too. Best just to keep out of his way, even if he does deserve to get his ass handed to him. What an ass-hat!
When Bron walks in, she sighs and puts away her phone, not trying to hide her smile as Alexandra puts the Scottish jock in his place. Turning to the sporty girl, Bronwyn, she ignores the jock and says "Hi. Yeah, Cassie for short. So, how long'll this take?
Note: Cassie's not a goth (wasn't sure if she was 'the goth' or 'the tight-ass',.. she's a bit stuck-up and dismissive but not mopey or wearing all black or anything as 'witchy' as that. Not into sports or school spirit etc. Her clothes are probably fairly similar to Alexandra's - White button up shirt (no tie). Very short skirt (plaid), black tights, black shoes and a jacket. Everything is good quality but not top-shelf (she can't afford that anymore). She has her hair in a pretty basic ponytail.
Bronwyn was almost amused. Shaun was a big guy, but he only had about an inch on her in flats, and she wasn't much shy of him in the arms and shoulders for that matter. "Not your doll, Shaun." She said firmly, but quickly, hoping to address it, then move past it.
"Well, it is the grand tour, Cassie, but if we move fast it'll feel quick, right? Anything you want to check out, I'm sure we'll have time.
"And no worries, Kaoru. I know teams aren't for everyone, (though going half-naked isn't really a good idea for most of them anyways), but look, you're going to be here some 30 hours a week, right? Why not find at least one thing here you'll enjoy? It can even be something you do alone. You do any crafts? We must be one of the last schools around with some good shop classes, and we've even got a deal going on with a local MakeSpace. Could be fun!"
Kaoru was starting to get the impression that nothing phased Bronwyn. Like there could be an alien invasion, and she'd smile and politely tell them humans weren't food and they couldn't take over the world and then offer to show them the local sights. It was...perplexing. And probably why she was on welcoming duty.
you're going to be here some 30 hours a week, right? Why not find at least one thing here you'll enjoy? It can even be something you do alone. You do any crafts? We must be one of the last schools around with some good shop classes, and we've even got a deal going on with a local MakeSpace. Could be fun!"
30 hours is probably an overestimate...
She tries to hide it, but a brief glimmer of excitement flares in Kaoru's eyes at the mention of 'shop classes'. I mean, she had already known they had them and had been very certain to make sure she was enrolled in them, but the fact that they were actually good was news to her. She had just thought it would be a good way to get access to tools she didn't have at "home". Or that were still packed up in boxes somewhere, probably hidden by her mom. She had never said anything, but Kaoru could tell she disapproved of it. Probably only let her do it because she knew who exactly had gotten her interested in such things.
"Yeah, I think I'm in one of those shop classes. Good to know it won't be a total bore." She manages to keep her voice flat and without the obvious quick speech normally indicative of excitement. She briefly wondered if she should ask if they had a music room or if there was any place with really nice acoustics, but decided against it. What was the point in asking something she could just as easily look up on the map she had downloaded? And as for the acoustics, some things were just better to find out on your own. She'd need to explore the entire school grounds on her own anyway to get a feel for the place.
"Shop huh? Got any forges? I got some...antiques tha' need a'bit'a TLC."
Cassie follows along behind Bronwyn, trying not to be too bored by the tour, or to make too many overtly judgemental comments about the quality of the buildings or the various amenities compared to those at her old school.
"Yeah, maybe not shop classes. Does this place have a decent music department? I play,.. used to play a bit. Are there decent recording places anywhere?"
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Forges? Who forges nowadays? While Shaun certainly had the arms to do it, Kaoru doubted he lacked the fine motor skills needed for some of the more intricate work. But if all he wanted to do was make a big, heaping claymore, he could probably pull that off.
She's a little taken aback when the other new girl asks about what she had just been pondering, but she makes sure to listen carefully to the answer. She gives the girl a sidelong glance. Most likely she wouldn't be able to get away with sneakily checking out her hands for the calluses associated with a stringed instrument. And she wasn't sure there was any way to check for the increased lung capacity of a wind instrument. And somehow she doubted the girl was a percussionist. Unless perhaps you included piano, but no one ever did. Giving up on her pointless debate, she just asks. "What do you play?"
After filling her stomach and avoiding stares, Alexis was in people watching mode. Her current subjects just came out of the main office. A small group of students, new people - she didn't remember ever seeing any of them before. The runner she'd seen on occasion at the track, and she seemed to be in charge of giving the new students a tour.
Her shabby, ill-fitting clothes hopefully made her less noticeable as she tailed them for a bit, listening into the conversation. She pretended to be a part of the tour group, like this was actually a school that Alexis was taking classes at, in some odd subject like world history or poetry or maybe some kind of math class.
Maybe the larger guy would be with her in one class, the asian boy in another. Maybe they'd flirt with her, as long as she remembered to shower beforehand so she didn't smell bad. Or maybe she'd just be friends with them. It was a nice enough dream to have, even if it was far from reality.
As Bronwyn and the new students file out to be given the grand tour of the school's campus during first period, Shayera gets a brief look at each of them. Rather than focusing on their clothes, her fighter training has her assessing their apparent level of fitness and movements. Lumberjack knows how to fight. Covering up a wound, too. Plain Jane has more poise than she's letting on. No hand-to-hand training, but some kind of training that has her centered way more than a yoga class. And goth boy's gait, is he--? her train of thought is cut off when her line of sight is cut off by someone she hasn't seen in a week.
She gives Bronwyn a quiet little smile if her girlfriend's eyes stray in her direction. Then the final warning bell sounds and she has to head in the opposite direction toward her first period class.
That's new... The girl in the bargain bin outfit though she was pretty slick, falling in behind the group. But Shaun noticed, just like he noticed the conspicuously fresh food stains. He wasn't unfamiliar with the tactic, blending in with a crowd to gain access to something (worked great for him back in Iowa), but food seemed like small potatoes...unless...
He glanced over his shoulder to get a better look at her. The clothes were ill-fitting, tattered, patched up, hair a mess, he knew the look. He'd spent the past 6 moths of his life defending people like her from scumbags who wanted to take from those who didn't have anything to take. Homeless, but not a danger. She could've done a lot more than eat some stale meatloaf, or whatever the hell they served here.
He let his look linger, let her know he'd noticed her. Then, with a subtle smile, he motioned his head for her to approach. C'mon, it's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you. I just wanna talk...
Ha! Shop class! I knew there was something that would get him excited! Oh? Shaun too? Hmm, fights and forgable 'antiques.' Merits a followup.
"I haven't done as much of the music stuff myself, but I like our band well enough. There is a small studio set up on campus too; I'll show you where. Make sure you've got things set up in advance though - competition for those time slots is fierce!
"And there's not really a full on forge in shop, though for most maintenance a forge would probably do more harm than good. They do have a portable one at the local MakeSpace - classes too if you need 'em. But hey, if you need any specialty tools-" She reached out her hand, "-Gimme your phones real quick, I'll put in my number. That goes for you too, Cassie. Gotta have someone at the new school you can call, you know?"
"Now-" Bronwyn's eyes lit up She's here! "Guys, I've gotta be horrible for like, just a minute, okay? I'll be right back!" Without waiting for a response, she took off, her long legs eating up the distance in not quite a sprint.
"You're back!" She wanted so much to just hold her girlfriend, but they had barely been able to talk while Shayera had been away. And I couldn't get mom and papá to sit down together like I was planning. If I hugged her like I want to, she might think we were Out, and kiss me and... I mean in like 5 minutes I'd be mad at myself. She bent down to give Shayera a too quick squeeze instead. "Oh. Hi Portia. Hi Renae. Do anything fun over Spring Break?"
Kaoru watches on as the group exchanges numbers, briefly wondering how difficult it would be to figure out their phone numbers herself. She hadn't tried hacking into cell towers yet. Or maybe the cell company itself would be a better approach. It could be interesting. Which was the only reason she was considering it.
She raised an eyebrow as their guide effectively ditched them. Presumably for her actual friends. One of which seemed to be an Asian girl. Unfortunately she lacked her mom's ability to tell the different ethnicities from just a glace, instead having to resort to figuring it out from their names. She was possibly Chinese from the dress. But then, clothing really meant nothing. She was pretty sure she had had a dress like that back before she trashed them all. Her eyes glazed over briefly. It had actually been a rather pretty dress. Blue and silver. And she did really like the style. Snapping out of it, she shook her head briefly to clear it. There was no point thinking about such things. She had trashed it. All of it. If she hadn't, her mom most likely would have insisted she wear it to something or another.
Herman was not having a good day. School he normally didn't mind. But this wasn't his school, not the one in Brooklyn where all his friends went. The microwave bagel his dad made him for breakfast was almost certainly a rather cruel joke. People talk about how great Halcyon is but WHY CAN'T THEY MAKE A PROPER BAGEL, KAREN?
Then of course his dad insist on driving him to school, as, after all, it was "his new school too." When you're a teacher's kid, it doesn't matter where you go, THEY WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.
He bolted out of the car before his dad was even parked. Dad understood and held back, probably looking at political memes on Facebook.
The high school...well, it was certainly modern? Nothing like the centuries-old buildings in Brooklyn. But maybe that meant ...working elevators?
Lost in thought he bumps into a cluster of students and fumbled to take his headphones out. Seemed an odd grouping. A group of girls with one or two guys, not that it mattered or was his business, he reminded himself. "Bah! Gah! Sorry, sorry. Ah, first day.". He has dark skin and a moderate fro-hawk, wearing a repurposed military jacket laden with buttons. Well, here goes.
"Oh, um, yeah. Cassie replies to Kaoru. "Music was compulsory at my old school. They made me learn the Cello. I was thinking of maybe switching to something else though,.. , maybe bass guitar or something a bit less,.. you know."
"Hi, Bronwyn," the pair say in saccharine unison, while the other two of the quartet, Cameron and Vickye, give little waves. While not hostile in any sense, the fashionistas usually come across as condescending toward most female students who eschew fashion, makeup, and other aesthetic pursuits.
"Renae and I went to Surfside Beach with my family," Vickye announces.
"Aspen," Portia says casually. "We couldn't all go to China like Xiu Ying here," she adds with a smirk.
Shayera had returned the deliberately brief hug and quickly stepped back. "I sure am. Culturally enriched and jet lagged," she tells Bronwyn with a smile. "I gotcha a souvenir, too. Later, though! I got to get to class, and it looks like you're on the clock."
Alexis watched quietly as the athletic girl split off in order to speak to someone shockingly attractive and wearing an odd style of dress. She wondered how many Kwikmart burgers you could buy for what that dress cost.
Then she noticed that she'd been noticed, and froze as the large boy gestured to her. She responded by swiftly vacating to nearest girls' room, not looking back.
The dream was over, and she had to be more careful.
She vaulted up to the high windows, cracking one open and slipping outside. She hung for a moment before wrenching the lock with as much strength as she could to jam it and prevent it from locking. That would make for a good entry point later.
She had to stay in cover even when outside, not daring to look up at the sky and think about the potential spy satellites over the city, scouring details and looking for any trace of her. Though they might have trouble if they thought they were looking for him and not her. It wasn't a thought that made Alexis relax, as she cut across towards the gym facilities.
This early in the morning, but after first bell, there was much less of a chance of being caught in the showers. She knew a couple of lockers that were left unlocked, with some decent soap and shampoo to use. It had been a week since her last one, and that had been cut short when one of the coaches nearly walked in on her.
Now though it was clear, not a soul in sight. She kept her guard up even as she stripped down and stepped underneath the cascade of heated water, soaking in the warmth as she worked quickly to scrub herself down. She took out a fine tooth comb and scraped it down through to the scalp in her hair, searching for little parasites. They were disgusting creatures to say the least, and part of her wanted to shave her whole head to be rid of them all.
She let her guard slip as she scrubbed her hair, not paying enough attention to the surrounding area. Alexis had to think about getting herself a new change of clothes as well, considering she'd been spotted in the old ones. She didn't want to be recognized as someone who didn't belong here. A vagrant, and not a student.
Maybe she could just sit in the back corner of a class?
The risk seemed too great. But what else would she have to do today? She stepped out from the hot stream, shutting off the tap. Then Alexis raided the lockers, putting together a new outfit. Pink T-shirt, grey sweatshirt, black leggings, and a pair of flats she was lucky to find. Not very warm for outside, but she was looking to blend in now. Her heart thumped hard as she combed her unruly chestnut hair with her fingers, staring at her olive complexion in the mirror. She looked like an every student now. Hopefully she wouldn't get talked to by anyone.
But she wouldn't mind listening to some conversations. Satisfied, she slipped back out, trashing her old clothes and heading back for the main building. This was still risky behavior for her, but the thrill was better than curling up in her cardboard tent wishing for change. Eventually, she caught sight of the athletic girl doing the tour again. This time, she made sure to stay out of direct sight lines. No need for another fiasco.
She hoped they'd go to a poetry class. She liked poems.
A lot of things happened at once. Bronwyn asked for his number, some random Chinese girl suddenly pulled in his tour guide like a nail to a magnet, some random-ass guy just slammed into him, and now the homeless girl had disappeared. Great. He took a deep breath as he searched his pockets for his phone. ”Oi ya’ tosser, mind your-!“ Shaun stopped mid-scentence as he actually looked at the guy who’d run into him. ”...do I know you? I swea’ I’ve seen ya face before...”
"Oh, um, yeah. Cassie replies to Kaoru. "Music was compulsory at my old school. They made me learn the Cello. I was thinking of maybe switching to something else though,.. , maybe bass guitar or something a bit less,.. you know."
"Classic?" What was it with adults and the orchestra instruments. I mean, she like violin well enough and loved the piano, but sometimes she just wished she could have tried something a bit more...contemporary. Like guitar. "Bet they made you learn Pachelbel's Canon too. Great cello part there." She let the sarcasm drip off her voice for the last part.
Her attention is grabbed as a new guy manages to bump into the large Scottsman, who seemed oddly absorbed in something else. When he identifies himself as a 'new kid', she responds flatly. "And being new somehow implies you need glasses? You missed the tour."
"Whoa, there, Highlander! I said I was sorry! I was in my head. Met? Er, you ever been to Brooklyn?"
Then he turns to Kaoru. "My vision is fine, just not always my attention. And how much tour could one high school need? Wait, did someone say where to smoke??"
”Nah. You ever been ta MacGregor, Iowa?
Then he turns to Kaoru. "My vision is fine, just not always my attention. And how much tour could one high school need? Wait, did someone say where to smoke??"
Uggg, a smoker? Kaoru quickly replies before Cassie (or maybe Shaun though she wasn't sure if he had actually paid attention to what Alexandra had said) gets a chance to. "Outside. At least 10 feet away from any building." She really wanted to say 'not on school grounds,' but wasn't sure if he would buy it. Though maybe it really was outlawed on school grounds? She wasn't sure, but if it was, she kinda hoped he'd be caught and forced to give up the habit somehow.
"Sounds like a lot of fun," she said, smiling at the other girls
"Okay, yeah, souvenir. Lunch? Or no, I should hang out with the new kids, and you've got your friends too and..." I'm sorry! "... well if not, I'll just catch you after classes, okay?"
Bronwyn's return was only at a quick jog, but she didn't really believe in wasting time. "Sorry guys - my friend just flew back into town super late last night and... well anyways, did I miss anything? Oh, hi, I'm Bronwyn." She held out her hand to Herman.
To the big guy, Herman replies, "Can't say as I have. Brooklyn born, Brooklyn bred. As for smoking, just as well. Dad would find out and doesn't like me smoking weed much yet. Which, uh, yeah. I'm Herman. My dad is starting as a teacher here today, so gimme a break for sympathy's sake?"
Shaun’s gaze narrows. He’s recognizing something about this Herman guy, but what? ”Teacher’s kid huh? Rough. Was’is’ name, ya da’?”
"Mr. Walker. Some kind of history position. He's ok, really. Weirdly woke, if I'm honest. But, yeah, it can be weird."