First Session: Ashton

AxelAsh · Jan 26, 2017

"U-Um...well..." he looked at the floor again, not saying a word. He didn't want to say anything he really didn't. He just...he wanted to be left alone. He didn't want to be surrounded by loud and obnoxious students who were born with the silver spoon in their mouths. He took a deep breath.

"I'm...not living with anyone." He waited a few moments before continuing. "When I got here I kinda bolted from the scouts with my paperwork. I was still in flight mode I guess? I found this little uh...abandoned place in the woods not too far from the school. So I walk to and from. It's...better that way I guess."

He rolled his shoulders again. "I don't...I don't want to stay in some institution again and I don't want to stay with people who are only housing me for fucking money checks." He tightened then un-tightened his fists.

"I just...I don't want that."

Romi · Jan 26, 2017

Valli's eyebrows raised when Ashton said he wasn't living with anyone, and they practically slid right off his face when Ashton explained that they were living in the woods.

Anxiety about institutions or not, that wasn't going to fly.

"That isn't how the foster care system works, at least on Manta Carlos. A significant portion of our population doesn't have a proper guardian, in which case the school steps in. The people taking over as your guardian wouldn't be unassociated adults looking for a paycheck--they'd be faculty of the school keeping an eye on things."

Really, Valli wasn't even clear how Ashton had managed to slip through the cracks, but it was possible that people were looking for them and simply hadn't realized they'd started attending class in the meanwhile. "You'll have plenty of other students living with you, but the dorm parent program is very unlike what you're likely used to."

Valli paused for a moment, frowning softly.

"The woods aren't a good place to stay. While most of the danger is in the forbidden forest, there's definitely danger in the woods themselves."

@AxelAsh

AxelAsh · Jan 26, 2017

Ashton slowly raised his brows up, gaze lingering on Valli as he took it all in. His face held no emotions, it was just a flat stare of someone who wasn't...even there. Ashton had no plans on joining this...institutionalized rooming thing. He didn't need a babysitter. He was capable of living on his own. He looked back down to the floor.

"I don't...need anyone." he muttered. "I just...want to be alone for now. No one but me." he said, sitting up a bit more. "Besides the first time I accidentally lit something on fire I'd end up being moved to another place, then another one and another one. No thanks." he said, slowly beginning to grind his foot into the floor.

Romi · Jan 26, 2017

Well, this was going to be the first sticking point. Most therapy had some kind of sticking point, something that the person refused to recognize that required a lot of work to get past. The problem was that, in this case, not getting past it put Ashton at risk, both physically and in terms of academics. It was only a matter of time before someone realized he was half in, half out of the books, and went looking for him.

"The school is capable of fireproofing a room, so it wouldn't be an issue at all. By comparison, the forest isn't fireproof--you could end up seriously hurting yourself if your powers activated there," Valli pointed out gently. "The school is staffed by people like you, who have struggled with their powers over the years. Even the most human among us will still have our own stories about learning to cope with the environment, and that's why the school goes out of its way to accommodate people. Fireproofing a room would be downright easy compared to some of the accommodations I've seen them make."

@AxelAsh

AxelAsh · Jan 26, 2017

Ashton stared at him, tapping his fingers on the arm rest of the chair. "Do you REALLY think it's just about fire proofing my living space?" Oh boy, Ashton really needed to attemp to be calm and cool at this point.

"It's not just about fire proofing things or making sure the lights stay on all the time it's about me not wanting to feel like I'm back in a god damn PRISON !" and with that, every single light in the room grew terribly bright before they just either exploded or short circuit. This time, the kid didn't bother apologizing.

"I can't. I can't stay in a place with a shit ton of other people. I'm happy living in that little shack, it feels more like home then anywhere else I've been. I absolutely refuse."

Romi · Jan 28, 2017

Valli was, to say the least, very nervous. Simply put, he didn't have much in the way of powers to protect himself, and if Ashton decided to attack him, he was going to be in trouble. The fact that Ashton kept showing signs of agitation was not a good one, and when it suddenly spiked--leading to every light bulb in the ceiling fixture abruptly exploding or going out--Valli's arms immediately went up, shielding his head from the worst of the glass.

Even so, it wasn't as if the damage was nonexistent. Several pieces of glass cut into Valli's arms as he jerked backwards, leaving the center of the room littered with pieces of glass. He barely even got to process what Ashton had said--and even if he had, he wouldn't have understood considering how much Ashton had left out--sticking to the wall of his office as Valli desperately tried to calm himself down.

"Ashton," he said after a moment, trying to sound firm and not shaky. "Right now, I am worried you are going to accidentally hurt someone--me, yourself, or someone else entirely--because of how linked your powers are to your emotions."

That was the understatement of the century, wasn't it?

"The school has bracelets which will disable your powers, preventing them from activating like this," Valli said, his heart still pounding away.

@AxelAsh

AxelAsh · Jan 28, 2017

Ashton jumped, seemingly startled out of his trance when Valli went up against the wall. He flinched, rubbing at his eyes. "Ah damn it not again....I'm sorry." he whispered. "U-Usually when I make electric stuff happens this...weird other part of me starts to surface and I can't control myself I didn't mean to hurt you.' He told him, biting his lip.

Maybe...a power nullifyer was helpful. But he REALLY didn't want it. He wanted to be able to control it at will. What if that side of him came out again and he wasn't able to put it back on!? What if he hurt someone worse then he did to Valli!? Ah jeez!

"But I'm not going to stay in some group home for kids with crazy powers! I wanna have my freedom I don't wanna be told when I can come and go! Ok!?" he shouted, looking really at his wits end again. He truly was the living persona of dual personalities. It wasn't even funny.

"....I'll consider the bracelet."

Romi · Jan 28, 2017

Hearing that some weird other part of him took over was not exactly the reassurance Valli was looking for.

Considering Ashton's intense anxiety over group homes, Valli had little doubt that time on Juvie island wouldn't be good for his mental health. Even so, lacking the important information he should have been given, it was hard to think of Ashton as anything other than dangerously erratic.

"You wouldn't be sent to a group home," Valli said, his voice sounding a shade squeakier than he might have otherwise. "Almost everyone who stays on the island stays in the dorms. While I understand you had a bad time at your last school, Ashton, Starlight Academy isn't like that. What happened to you there would never happen to you here, and things like the bracelet will only help you."

It was not going well, to say the least.

@AxelAsh

AxelAsh · Jan 28, 2017

"Bullshit!' he shouted. "It wasn't a school it was a god damn torture facility!" He spat out, his head now in his hands again.

"I was fucking WATER BOARDED for fuck sake! I was pinned down on a cross as they read me passages from their book and brainwashed me like all those other poor fuckers in that building! I wasn't educated to be a good kid, I was tortured till I began to believe I didn't deserve to exist! The moment I began levitating they strapped those golden holy items into my feet and ankles and made me walk on them. I can't dance anymore till they heal, I can't walk without being in pain and I can't even lift myself into the air without it hurting.I was drugged and constantly kept confined and restrained. Hell, I was starved for days at a time."

He was quiet for a bit then smiled, but not a good one it was one more or less that screamed he was on the verge of a break down and ready to just curl up into a ball and just stay in a corner till he was ready to socialize again.

Slowly, he stood on his feet and began to unzip the zipper on his jacket, then removed the jacket he wore, followed by the t shirt. He left his black wife beater he wore underneath on for decencies sake.

And sure enough. Bruised, scarred, stitched together, it all was simply the same conclusion. Hands now on his back. "I've got more on my back, and on the rest of me. Those idiot grandparents of mine sent me to some torture facility that went with their religion. Some splinter group or whatever. "

He snorted. "Oh they believed everyone was redeemable and saveable. If they repented enough and beat the shit out of them the demons in them would leave. Except me. I was born soul less and when I die there's no one there to save me. "

He reached and began to re dress himself.

"I'll make a deal with you. Find me someone to live with who it'll just be me and them and I'll maybe consider it."

Romi · Feb 6, 2017

Valli desperately wished he had a panic button. Something. There was one in his old office, an 'oh shit' button that would contact someone to help. A warning signal that he felt he was in danger.

He certainly felt like he was in danger, even if he was doing his best to try not to show it. But Ashton's behavior was increasingly erratic and alarming, disjointed to the point where even Valli--with more than a decade of experience--was having a hard time following along.

Not ten minutes earlier he'd talked about going to school, complaining that he was bullied and felt sick. Then the story had changed--suddenly he'd been tortured in increasingly horrific ways.

When Ashton stood up--slowly at least--Valli tried to swallow down his nerves. Thankfully he didn't make any aggressive moves, instead showing off a patchwork of scars and mottled bruises that littered his body.

"Ashton," Valli said, his tone wavering. "Please, just listen to me. The school isn't like that, and you need help beyond what just I can give you. The school is littered with demons, who go here just like any other student. We'd never allow anything like that."

@AxelAsh

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First Session: Ashton

AxelAsh

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Romi

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AxelAsh

Active Member

Romi

Secretly a Bird

AxelAsh

Active Member

Romi

Secretly a Bird

AxelAsh

Active Member

Romi

Secretly a Bird

AxelAsh

Active Member

Romi

Secretly a Bird