game Issue #02 - The First Day is the Hardest

[JubalBreakbottle]

Felix Neel - Magnet

---

Felix nods at Megan and replies, "totally could have jumped her."  Then, he realized that he thought that same thing a minute ago.  Could she read his mind?  Is she reading his mind now?  Imagination of mind-reading being her freak ability race around his head.

 

Recovering himself after a comfortable pause, he looks at Megan side-eye and smirks, "so, you think I'm interesting?"  Heh Heh, he thinks he's pretty clever with that one.

 

 

[Jubilant Thunder]

Gabriella Marlowe

 

"Good luck, see you at lunch!" Backpack firmly slung over a shoulder Gabby waves as she and Sarah part ways, hurrying to make it to her first class. She briefly considers flying to make up some lost time, but that would draw waaaaay more attention than she was comfortable with. Also she didn't have a ton of control over it yet, and crashing a big hole through a building was not the way she wanted to start her first day here. Or any day really.

 

Fortunately her abilities meant she didn't really run out of breath, so normal human foot travel was fast enough as long as she made sure not to run into anyone. The morning passed in a blur; the intro speeches and syllabi for the gen eds started to run together. Then came journalism, the subject she was actually excited for, and she stayed after asking questions about joining the school paper long enough that she ended up late for her last class.

 

Making her way towards the quad Gabby was surprised to find she was actually hungry and looking forward to lunchtime. Looking around outside she spotted a familiar face, though not the one she was looking for. The flash of red hair was unmistakably Megan and she hesitated, hoping to remain unnoticed in the crowd as she usually is. But after a moment's thought she keeps going forward, waving at the other girl as she walks past at a slight angle. Not close enough to force a conversation, but enough to give her a chance. Maybe Megan had just gotten off on the wrong foot. It was a big change for all of them after all-moving here, leaving friends and family behind, getting tossed into this crazy new place full of strangers. "Hi!"

[JubalBreakbottle]

Felix Neel - Magnet

---

Felix stared at his class schedule.  AP Chemistry and Honors math!?  He felt his parents daring him to fail out of the last school where he can go, Superhero High.  Where else could also have History of Superheroes and Theory of Magic?  At least it was a good balance with normalcy.  After cycling through most of his emotions, Felix settles on acceptance.

 

Iin the first period, he already could sense a slight difference between his last high school.  But a blonde girl finally said it aloud in his second period of Chemistry, "wonder who has super powers here?"  In his last high school, veteran kids assessed the new kids for coolness, athleticism for sports, or geekhood who would earn perfect grades.  Who would challenge the established social order of the previous year, and who would accept their label without conflict.  But at Claremont, there is an extra super dimension of powers which could define cool, break sports, or destroy the grading curve.  In wordless reply, he reactively assesses the magnetic materials within the classroom: cell phones, credit cards, buckles, furnishings.  He wonders to himself who else has powers.

 

Felix's snaps to gawk at that red-haired crazy girl when she calls him out as The Amazing Skating Lad and mouths, "What The F***."  He had not yet learned that girls who picked on boys generally liked them.  So without a snappy comeback ready, he turned his gaze back to the board ignoring all the stares and wished his powers included invisibility.  In a passive-aggressive response, he reached his senses out and studied the magnetic materials of the crazy redhead.  He wanted to recognize her set of materials (and by extension her) if he ever sensed them again, AND a targeted magnetic pulse silently switched off her smartphone.

 

---

 

His next class almost made him smile.  History of Superheroes!  It seemed like everyone in the course felt that this was the class which was one of the reasons that they attended the academy.  He studied the syllabus wondering when he would discover how he became a freak.  He wondered if there was anyone like him before. 

 

---

 

English was English, so he zoned out.  He grabbed lunch to go at the cafeteria and hunted for places to ride.  The quad was nothing but grass and the paths weren't paved.  When he arrived at PE, his disappointment was obvious.  He needed to find a place to ride, or this school would be miserable.  They made them change at the pool house for PE, so they could lap the field a few times after getting organized and talking about the semester. 

 

---

 

He arrived at Theory of Magic with wet hair from a shower beneath his backwards ballcap.  His second academy-defining course, he wondered if magic was real or just technology we didn't understand yet.  He notices The Golden Bough by James George Frazer and the Order of Light on the syllabus and commits to himself to read everything early for this class.

 

After school, he wanders everywhere accessible looking for a track to ride.

 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2022 by JubalBreakbottle (see edit history)

[EDTA]

Megan - Newt

---

The meeting with 'Jinx' Masters went about how Megan thought it would, except completely different cuz Jinx was young and kept trying to act like she was just friends which was so obvious but whatever. Beat getting yelled at instead, she guessed. But where did she get off doing it in the first place? Jinx didn't need to pretend it was anything else with her "I'm here to talk" or "Look I'm so cool and pretty and that means you can trust me" act. She was a guidance counselor so she was going to do guidance counselor stuff. She knew why Megan was there, Megan knew why Megan was there, and no matter what was said it was still the same thing Megan heard before: "Don't screw up again, we got our eyes on you".

 

New school, same ****. If it weren't for the fact some guy in her English class was like a tree or something that first period wouldn't have been anything different from any other school probably. At least the next one was going to be good. Somehow she swung getting into an AP class, and Chemistry too. She didn't really pick her classes to satisfy anything but like the bare minimum except for this one and the one after it. Normally she'd have to be like, a junior or something, to even try taking AP Chemistry but super school gets super rules and super exceptions and when you can do what Megan could do you get some of those. She was actually feeling pretty good, at least right up until she got in the class and saw skaterboy wander in, same as he was at the guidance counsellor's office. Again? Was this like some remedial class or something and it wasn't special she got in after all? Was she going to sleep through this one too? At least unlike English there was plenty of stuff here to mess around with if it turned out this really was a joke of a class. And what a joke. Some ditz was asking who had superpowers, just out of the blue? The **** difference was it to her? This was supposed to be an AP class, didn't that mean everybody was supposed to be like smart or something? Though maybe she was a transfer student or something, since everybody here except Megan and skaterboy looked like they were older like they were supposed to be. Maybe she was just here to gawk at the freaks.

 

"Yeah, I'm the Bearded Dragon Lady and that," Megan says sarcastically as she's singling out Felix, "Is the Amazing Skater Lad. We fight crime with his magic talking skateboard." So what if Megan had been in the counselor's office already today? Ditz was the one who decided to ask a stupid question and disrupt class. Anything after that was on her.

---

 Class after that was the other one she cared about, Applied Magical Theory. Or was told she had to care about. It kinda happened that she got signed up for it. Not that she wouldn't have picked it on her own probably. She figured it was going to be all about magic and using magic and all that. Like a science class but with magic, experimenting and ****. Turned out it was more like a math class, but with magic, calculating and ****. What a wasted opportunity! Megan knew how to do what she wanted to do. Why'd she have to learn how it works? Wasn't that like the opposite of magic? Plus she had like an actual non-magical math class right after that. That was way too much math all at once. Maybe she'd have to go and see Jinx about it or something. Or at least see if Magic Math counted towards graduation because if she was going to have to take Magic Math there's no way she'd take non-magical math if she didn't have to!

---

Lunch was next, nothing weird there. Lots of people had lunch then, so it was also a study hall. Go in shifts or whatever. Except it was the first day so nobody had any studying to do but they still wanted to eat so the place was probably a lot busier than it'd be other days so there was no way Megan or anybody'd be getting through this line any time soon. Eh, it could be worse. Then it got worse, with that stupid perky voice and dork glasses and just had to queue up next to her in this line that wasn't going anywhere. "'Sup uh..." Megan trails off to nothing, realizing she didn't actually know the girl's name. Or maybe she did, she just didn't feel like trying to remember it. Regardless she plows onward. "What's the matter, break up with your girlfriend already?" 

---

The rest of the day wasn't anything weird either. History and PE, just like if she was in any other school without superpowers although the little spiel at the start of PE really made her think otherwise. Lots of warnings and stuff. Suppose the school didn't want bodies to drop every time they wanted to play dodgeball or something but that wasn't any big deal to Megan. Turned out melting people's faces off already wasn't really applicable to most sports so she never really had the temptation to go all out.

[Jubilant Thunder]

Gabriella Marlowe

 

"Uh..." Gabby hesitates, not sure how to respond to Megan. Was the other girl confusing her for someone else? Wait, did she mean Sarah? "No! I mean, we're not...not that there's anything wrong...but that's not how...we're just friends." She finishes awkwardly, growing increasingly flustered. Was that really the vibe they were giving off? It had been like a day, not even at this point.

 

"But anyway," she continues, determined to press on through it. "I just saw you and thought, you know, 'hey I know that person' so I figured I would say hi. New place, lots of new people, it's good to see a familiar face right?"

[EDTA]

Megan - Newt

---

"Uh huh..." Megan says. It sounded a lot like Gabby was like way too defensive about whatever was going on there. Whatever. Probably something she'd have to figure out on her own because Megan sure as **** wasn't going to do it for her. "Dude it's been like three hours. And we only met yesterday. You've probably seen some kids in your classes longer than you've seen me." 

 

It wasn't exactly like Megan was putting out vibes that she wanted to be Gabby's friend. Or anyone's friend. Huh. That was kinda messed up. Sure Gabby like glomming onto anybody she could was super annoying since she decided to do it to Megan but that didn't mean Megan had to be horrible about it. Plus it wasn't like Omega House was a huge place and Megan could probably wait until the second week to alienate everyone. "Look, I don't really mean to be all ****** or whatever but this isn't the first time I've done like, this. You know, start all over at a new school not knowing anybody and I mean I'm okay with that. But I guess I can see how it can suck."

[JubalBreakbottle]

Felix Neel - Magnet

---

Felix finds his way back to Omega House after unsuccessfully finding enough pavement to ride.  He heads to his new room and unpacks.  Clothes go in drawers.  Skater posters go on the walls.  After emptying his luggage, he listens to music and reviews the syllabus of his classes. Only Superheroes and Magic really interest him.  He records the reading lists on his iPhone and commits to find a bookstore or library as soon as possible.

 

Bored, he rides down to the common room enjoying the few minutes of the flat floor and stairs ride.  Probably only do that once, too.  He finds a comfortable place to flop, listen to music, and watch social media.

[Khakhan]

Eventually your first day of classes winds down with different levels of excitement and boredom. In some ways Claremont is utterly fantastical, with classes that are clearly beyond the bounds of most ordinary schools. In other ways it is clearly mundane – you still have homework, there are still all the trials and tribulations of school, and there are still cool people and jerks. As you finish up your classes, you eventually make your way back to the house after idling around the campus for a little bit. Becks and Ty are outside, each dressed out in gym clothes. Becks is reclined against one of the support posts and Ty is stretching in the grass.

 

As you approach, Ty straightens up and grins, a hint of mischief in the normally friendly look. "Hey, folks! Time for some training. Change into something you don't mind getting sweaty in and follow us." He tosses a series of bottles of Gatorade out to folks as they draw nearer.

[Streetrat]

     Sarah - Artifice

---

     Sarah finished her snack, she wasn't really as hungry after the barrage of classes as she thought she should be.  But she knew that it was more first day jitters than anything else. Aside from a few passing glances, she did not make any meaningful connections with any other students. Her teachers seemed...like teachers. There were some that she would enjoy more than others, but that was the way of school.

 

When she got close to Omega House, she was about to call out to Gabby when Ty interrupted her thoughts. A workout...perhaps she would regret not eating more, but she had a hearty breakfast so she should be good to go, but she may be very hungry after.  "Workout clothes, got it." she said before catching a bottle of bright blue Gatorade and jogged upstairs to her room.

 

Once she entered the room Jacket slipped off her and waited for her to change. Sarah put on a loose'ish pair of sweatpants, a sports bra and a t-shirt before Jacket swooped in to finish the ensemble.  It looked goofy, a nice jacket with workout clothes, but she knew that if the workout had anything to do with Powers Training that she would be in need of the protection and flight it would offer.

 

When she got back down the stairs she realized that she was being the over-eager nerd. She was not sure her feelings about this. In the end, did she want to just be herself and let others like or hate her for who she is, or who she pretends to be.

 

She had to commit to it, and she wanted to be herself, it was a fresh start after all, why not start clean. 

 

When Gabby got back and changed Sarah offered her a nerviousited raised eyebrow "Looks like we get to see what we all can do quickly after all." which could be a complete misunderstanding of the situation, but after learning of Gabby's powers, she almost wanted to see her in action, and sort of wanted to show off what she could do.

---

[JubalBreakbottle]

Felix Neel - Magnet

---

Ty catches Felix's attention in the common room.  After introductions and a bit of chit chat, Felix heads upstairs to change.  He replaces his pants for knee length shorts and his collared shirt with a tattered skull-motif 'skate or die' tee shirt. Almost through his door, he takes off and tosses his cap on to his bed fully releasing his unkempt, blonde hair.

 

Outside, he joins Becks, Ty, and Sarah who he tries not to stare at the older girl.  Hormones kick and snarl.  He plays it cool finding a comfortable slouch position near her.  The five feet nine inches lanky attractive teenager with brilliant blue eyes offers, "s'up.  Nice jacket."

 

Edited December 15, 2022 by JubalBreakbottle (see edit history)

[Streetrat]

 Sarah - Artifice

---

Sarah sees a new kid, someone not recognized, she thought that there were only Ty & Becks there.  He must be a new kid.  She smiles and shows it off a little with a small twist to let the bottom flair a bit.  "Thanks, it has pockets." she says tucking her hands into Jacket.  Oooooooh boy does it have pockets...deep dimensional pockets.

---

[EDTA]

Megan - Newt

---

"Seriously? I just changed out of that ****** thing!" The complaint came reflexively as soon as Ty told them to get changed into gym clothes. Okay he didn't explicitly say gym clothes but that's what Megan was going to wear. Literally. One quick trip upstairs and she's back in the exact same blue shorts and white shirt emblazoned with a little 'St. Columba's' logo over the chest. Just because the school burned down didn't mean her parents didn't pay perfectly good money for the outfit so she was stuck with it. Like the uniform. Fortunately it wasn't all gross from her actual gym class, another perk of having a messed up heat tolerance or whatever.

 

"So you gonna give the lecture about how we shouldn't crater people's ribcages with dodgeballs, cuz I already got that one today." 

Edited December 15, 2022 by EDTA (see edit history)

[JubalBreakbottle]

Felix Neel - Magnet

---

Felix nods in reply to Sarah.  Staring at the ground, he wonders how to respond.  After a comfortable pause, he finally musters the courage to introduce himself.  Just then, the crazy redhead arrives on the scene causing him to choke on his words and stare far away.

 

Thirty seconds after the crazy ginger storms off to get changed, he breathes deep to steady his voice, "um.  I'm Felix.  Parents dropped me off this morning.  You new too?" 

 

 

[Streetrat]

 Sarah - Artifice

---

Sarah nods to Felix.  "Hey Felix, I'm Sarah, and yeah...this is my first day here too. Well, I guess second if you count the orientation. Welcome to the collection of misfits that make up Omega House." she says while brushing one part of her hair over her ear.

 

Sarah noted as Megan stormed off that they shared one class together, Applied Magical Theory. Sarah wondered if this means that some of her powers were magic in nature or not. It may be something that they shared in common that could help them...well she is not sure if it would make them friends, but at least become a neutral ground. She still needed to think on how to approach it with her.

---

[Chimi]

 Hubris Hammersmith - Iteration

---

Hubris upon meeting Ms. 'Jinx' Masters had gone into focus mode. She didn't really have it in her to do Megan's blasé approach to authority...Hubris needed to prove that her delinquent days were behind her, and keep up the mask. She made the appropriate answers, and if Jinx noticed, well, at least Hubris was establishing that she understood the rules and the stakes, and knew how to go along.

 

Her classes went much as expected, with a large crossover with her housemates who might note her as focused and quiet.

 

After classes were done, Hubris made her way home right away, retreating from the press of people to her room where she started transcribing her notes. Less about the classes themselves, and more about the people in them, teachers and students. Something to help her keep all of them straight. A text from Becks gets her changed and headed out with the others.

 

"Felix, yeah?" She knows it is, she just wrote it down along with a basic description and a few other notes from their shared classes, but the socially correct thing to do is not admit that and ask to make sure. "I think we're all new. Big class, and Omega is overflow?" She shrugs. Her athletic gear is...mostly boring. Grey athletic tights, grey sleeveless top, same material. More of the same makes a detachable left sleeve which ends in a half glove, covering most of her arm. The only real splashes of color are the purple soles of her black shoes, with purple laces, and a matching phone holder strapping her device to her right bicep. She waves off an offered sports drink, holding up her own water bottle (clear, light blue, generic). "You have a skateboard, right?"