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Post by Admin Sydnee on Oct 19, 2012 14:23:21 GMT -5
Powers class, it wasn't the only thing AJ dreaded, but probably one of the most annoying parts of her stay at Spiritus Academy. Maybe the powers class and training were useful to other students who had powers that benefited from this, but for AJ...it was just another thing to show her that she was burdened with a power that had absolutely no good points to it. Life was strange without a sense of touch. No shaking hands, hugging, handholding or a comforting hand on someone's shoulder. All of those simple gestures that people did were something completely different for AJ, they only made lust awaken in the person she was touching and then it was nearly impossible to stop them.
Life was empty when it wasn't filled with social interactions with people you could hold dear. While she enjoyed her time on her own with a book, reading about characters only made her wish she could have a life like they did, a life where the simplicity of her touch didn't lead to the person wanting to rip her clothes off.
She didn't know what Spiritus thought they could do about this, how anybody could train her to control her power that was very much involuntary. Some days she looked in the mirror and pressed her hands to her face, wondering why she was cursed, why her touch caused such a reaction and why she had to be forced to live like this.
But at least there was someone else in this training session, a guy around her age with curly hair and a grin. She only knew him because they were thrown into the same group. He had charm as his power, and she had lust inducement. They were rather alike, a deadly combination when put together.
"Hey Gabe," she said, upon entering the training room, the door shutting behind her. She was still in her Spiritus uniform, nothing special. It wasn't as if she tried to appear special. No make-up, nothing special done to her hair. It was all apart of getting people to act like you didn't exist, so they wouldn't try to touch you.
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Post by emilybuj on Oct 19, 2012 14:36:42 GMT -5
Gabe had already been in the training room. He wished they would just let him practice his flying, but instead every other day he had to deal with his Charm too. He couldn't stand trying to control a power that had such an outrageous effect. It almost wasn't worth trying. He would be content with leaving the glasses on for the rest of his life if it meant he could skip out of the class. Unfortunately, Spiritus would never allow that.
So he grinned and beared it. 3 years and still no progress, but he showed up ever Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to try and "learn" to control his charm. Half the time he just worked on making more of the special lenses for his glasses. He had gotten pretty good at it and every pair he made were slightly easier to see out of. His ultimate goal was for them to be completely blacked out, but he could still see through his end. He wondered if he could get his hands on some two-way mirror pieces.
Today he wore his pair of bright yellow glasses and a matching bowtie. He had been told to take it off in French, but he put it back on directly after. Some teachers didn't really notice. Gabe liked to do what he could to spice up his uniform, and most teachers couldn't do anything about the glasses except ask him to wear the black ones - which he rarely did.
Gabe was humming to himself, quite content with how his day had been so far, when a familiar voice greeted him. "Hey AJ," he said with a smile as the girl came and sat next to him. AJ and Gabe had been in this powers class together since their 9th grade year. Their powers were similar, so they lumped them together. And even though neither of them ever made any progress, it was nice to know that somebody had a feeling of what it was like. Gabe thought she must have it so much worse though. "How are you?" he asked kindly.
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Post by Admin Sydnee on Oct 19, 2012 14:45:23 GMT -5
"Still showing up to this pointless class I see," AJ commented as she sat down next to him, making sure to put some distance between them. She had to do it with everybody. It was never anything personal. Most people just thought she was afraid of them, but really she was afraid of her power. If Gabe didn't show up, she didn't know what she'd do. It wasn't as if this class was helping them, but rather just making it look like it was. So she came here three times a week to mostly just talk with Gabe, and she supposed that was enough. She only spoke to him because of this powers class they were in together, otherwise she'd probably stay away from him as she did from everybody else.
She folded her hands in her lap, looking down at them. How am I? She shrugged at his question. Alone, annoyed, angry. "I'm fine." She sighed. "I like your glasses choice today. Bold color." She smiled.
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Post by emilybuj on Oct 19, 2012 14:55:34 GMT -5
Gabe ran his finger across the top of his glasses. "I do my best to look as snazzy as possible," he said in reference to his wardrobe. He smiled toward her. He always did her best to make AJ smile. She always seemed really sad, and Gabe hated when people were sad. He'd act his goofiest constantly to make up for it. He fixed his bowtie and stared up at the ceiling for a moment.
"I really only keep coming here because if they kick me out then they'll ship me back home to my parents and that's probably worse," Gabe noted. AJ knew a lot about how Gabe didn't really get along great with his dad. She had heard quite a few stories. Really the only good thing the class was for was conversation.
"If they tell us to do 'focus' exercises again today I might just get up and walk out," Gabe said. "You with me?" he asked looking back over at AJ. Half the time the instructor told them to practice their focus. Well what the hell was he supposed to focus on? He had no clue where the power came from or even the slightest idea on how to stop it. AJ was the same. And neither were comfortable testing it or pushing the limits of their powers. It was too socially awkward and dangerous.
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Post by Admin Sydnee on Oct 21, 2012 12:24:53 GMT -5
AJ smiled and let out a laugh at his comment about looking snazzy. She picked at a loose string on the end of the sleeve of her sweater. "I know how you feel," she said in response to not wanting to get kicked out. "I don't think I can face my parents. They think their daughter is a slut." As if it's by choice. She closed her eyes for a moment thinking of her family. She missed them, but at the same time, she knew she couldn't stand to hear what they thought of her and all because of this curse she had to carry.
She nodded in agreement. "The focus exercises do nothing. As if I'm supposed to know what to focus on. This power is so hard to control. The only way I can have the littlest bit of control is if I stay away from everybody." Which only made her look like a loner who didn't know how to dress herself fashionably. But it was all apart of staying in control. She had to try her best to look absolutely hideous and keep her head down, or she wouldn't like what came next.
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Post by emilybuj on Oct 21, 2012 13:27:23 GMT -5
"Yeah," Gabe sighed. "I mean I don't have it to that extent.... I just can't look people in the eyes. Or they think I'm that douchebag kid who wears sunglasses inside and at night," Gabe further explained, laughing at himself. He ran a hand through his hair and looked over at AJ.
"And I still remember that time you ran out of Class in 9th grade when they asked you to use your power on him," he said with a laugh. "I know you were really embarrassed but in hindsight its really funny. You never got to witness the teacher's face when he found out what your power was. Apparently he thought you put people to sleep." Gabe twirled a pencil around his finger. He hoped she still didn't feel bad about that. It happened pretty long ago. And now most people didn't even know who AJ was.
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Post by Admin Sydnee on Oct 21, 2012 21:40:35 GMT -5
AJ sighed. "I know what you mean. Everybody thinks you're a douchebag and everybody thinks I'm some loner girl. I guess it's better than being known as a slut." She shrugged, figuring that this was a lot easier and looked over at Gabriel. He could pull off the sunglasses though, it worked for him.
She wrinkled her nose at the memory. "Yeah, I guess now it's funny...but the idea of somebody wanting to demonstrate my power is....weird and embarrassing. I don't want people to know what my power is and that's why I stay hidden." It was such an absurd power to have, it didn't even make sense. "That incident is exactly why I try my hardest to blend in now," she pointed out.
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Post by emilybuj on Oct 22, 2012 16:17:25 GMT -5
Gabe nodded, and sighed. "Understandable." At least Gabe had been able to form some form of relationships with people. He felt bad for AJ and honestly wished he had some form of answers for her and for himself. But he wasn't sure he ever would.
Then suddenly the instructor Gabe shut up and listened for a while, but often spaced out. Until he heard the word 'assignment'. It was only then when he groaned, and sat up to pay attention. "So I want you guys to write a paper... 4 to 5 pages long, on the constructive uses of your powers and how you'll use them to better society."
At that, Gabe couldn't help but groan again and look over at AJ who probably would have the same annoyed look on her face. The instructor told them to take the class time to brainstorm, ask questions, and outline their paper. Gabe didn't even take out a notebook, though. Once the professor was done talking her turned to AJ and with a dumbfounded look on his face expressed, "Holy crap, I'd rather be doing the focus exercises."
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Post by Admin Sydnee on Oct 23, 2012 13:00:32 GMT -5
"I have you though, Gabe. And I guess one friend is better than none." AJ smiled over at him gratefully, glad that she had someone to share things with who somewhat understood her burden.
She heard the door open as the instructor stepped in and AJ tried to stop herself from wanting to bolt out of the room. She didn't want to know what was going to happen today. She dazed in and out of daydreams where she didn't have to hide from the world. She looked up, wide-eyed at the instructor when he mentioned an essay. What could they possibly write an essay on? Her power wasn't constructive and it couldn't better society. She looked confused, thinking about raising her hand to ask him the obvious questions.
"Is this a joke?" she whispered to Gabe when he turned to her after the professor was done. "My power....constructive?" It had to be a joke. She turned back to the instructor after staring down at her blank page of her notebook for a moment. "Uhm," she began awkwardly, raising her hand. "Sir, I don't understand how my power can be used constructively or to better society." Let alone write four to five pages on it. How was lust useful? "I feel as if you're just giving us this assignment because you have no idea how to help us." Her voice was quiet, but loud enough for him to hear. She shrunk back down in her seat.
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Post by emilybuj on Oct 23, 2012 18:32:11 GMT -5
The teacher turned around to face AJ. Clearly he had been slightly thrown by the question, nervous due to some sort of truth in it. "Please... Miss Lane... I have a curriculum to follow. If you would like to argue it, I suggest you contact the dean."
Gabe chuckled slightly at AJ's attempts. "Well I guess we're going to have to get creative," he started, trying to come up with some sort of joke that might make AJ feel better about the assignment. "Like... you use your power to distract an evil emperor giving all his prisoners a chance to escape. Then we can have the Hulk come in and pry him off of you."
Gabe rolled his eyes at the suggestion too, knowing that it was only a joke and that there wasn't much that AJ could find good about her power. And Gabe was pretty sure he wouldn't get away with talking about his flying. But even he could at least bullshit some stories about how he uses his Charm to get out of detention. Then if the teacher threatens him with detention he can just use his charm.
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Post by Admin Sydnee on Oct 23, 2012 19:49:41 GMT -5
Of course. A curriculum. And without a curriculum they'd be doing nothing, but how was this supposed to help either? AJ did suppose that it wasn't his fault, but taking it up with the dean probably wouldn't do anything either. She had no idea why she'd even spoken up to the instructor. Staying quiet was easier, it was how she was so unknown.
She nodded slowly at the instructor. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry." She turned to Gabriel with a nervous smile. Creative it was.
She did laugh at Gabe's wild idea he came up with though. "I guess if we were ever in that situation it would come in handy." She supposed the only thing her power would be good for was distracting somebody if anybody she knew was ever in danger. Otherwise, she was lost for ideas and that was a big sacrifice as she was afraid of intimacy ever since she developed her power.
"If he wants us to really come up with a four page paper on how our powers can be useful, I'm going to have to turn it into something like a fantasy novel." She did love to read them.
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Post by emilybuj on Oct 23, 2012 20:07:50 GMT -5
"Go for it," Gabe said with a shrug. "Why the hell not? I mean... we're basically the personification of fantasy and whimsy anyway. Just hand me a broomstick and let me fly out over Cranbrook and I'm pretty sure the muggles will be having "Harry Potter" sightings for weeks." Gabe pulled out his notebook, more to write song lyrics than to actually write his paper.
But then again, he already knew what he was going to write about. If he were to become a singer, his power would be a great asset to making it to the top. Unfortunately, he found it morally incorrect to use it in such a way, so he would never do so. If he really wanted to become a singer he was going to do it the hard way, after he learned to control his powers... if he ever did.
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Post by Admin Sydnee on Oct 23, 2012 20:14:33 GMT -5
AJ nodded at Gabe. "You're right," she told him, grateful for his voice of reason. She always had been and then she laughed, wishing she could shove him playfully in the shoulder, but over the years, she'd learned to control such actions that normal people normally did that helped build relationships and cut herself off from them. It made her life feel a bit empty.
"You think if I write him a fantasy novel he'll give me an F?" she asked Gabe, because that's what her paper would have to be. Providing a distraction...that was the only benefit of her power she could think of. And even when she tried to think of others, she came up with nothing and it only made her hate her power even more.
She let Gabe fall into his trance and stared down at her own blank notebook, where she'd rather fill the pages with her own creative prose. That's just how she would have to treat this assignment. She tapped her pencil on the page before glancing up at the clock, wishing that powers class didn't drag by.
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Post by emilybuj on Oct 23, 2012 20:30:07 GMT -5
Gabe shrugged, "So what if he does. There really isn't much else you can do," he stated. "I mean I would think it's awesome personally. I love fantasy. I love magic. And I think what we have is the closest to a magically world we'll ever find. So why the hell can't you write a fantasy novel?"
Gabe watched as she nodded, and her eyes turned from their original frustration to thought and creativity. "And if you're worried about it, I'll read it for you and make sure it isn't TOO out of this world," he smiled at her. He would do his best to help because he knew how hard it must be, not having the normal social interactions as everybody else. Gabe had to stop himself a few times from trying to highfive AJ or poke her or hug her or anything else. He knew the results would be horrible.
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Post by Admin Sydnee on Oct 23, 2012 20:37:23 GMT -5
"You're right. I guess Spiritus is our Hogwarts, in a weird, messed up kind of way. Although I have to say, I'd much rather be a wizard then power over lust." She pretended her pencil was a wand for a moment, waving it around and casting random spells she remembered from the Harry Potter novels before grinning to herself.
"You'd do that? I'd love that. I want to make sure it's not too far fetched and I could always use an opinion." Gabe was the only person she really talked to, except for mumbling things to her roommates every once in a while. He was all she had. Her eyes shifted over to him and the sunglasses that concealed his eyes. She wondered what his eyes looked like sometimes, but she'd never get to know. Just as he'd never get to give her a high five.
"We've got this. He better appreciate our essays." She grinned at him, holding up her hand. "Air five?" It was all she had.
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