We Could Be the Stars, Falling From the Sky (Open)

[River Tseung]

One more lap. River was panting heavily as he turned the corner of the track, having already done several laps around. He was jogging at a good pace, and the warm summer sun was beating down intensely on his sweat-dampened body; his tanktop was clinging to his lean form. Pick up the pace. He forced himself to use his last reserves of energy to speed up, trying to concentrate on the song playing in his ears to ignore the pain in his chest and legs.

Hey girl you're my everything, I'mma give you everything~

He would have sang aloud if he had the breath. Finally, with a last sprint, he made it across the line, jogging to a stop as he fought to catch his breath. He checked his stopwatch - not a bad time at all. He was getting faster; that was good, especially for the track team. He rested his hands behind his head to increase his lung capacity as he took deep, relieving breaths, wiping a few stray drops of sweat from his forehead. It was the afternoon of a mid-July Saturday, which meant absolutely no work to do whatsoever. River was enjoying the break.

There were several other people milling around the training field, and he looked around to see if he recognized anyone. It was more than likely he would - the social butterfly knew a good portion of the school's students by name. He perched on a stone near the track, enjoying the feeling of adrenaline leaving his body. It was going to be a good day, he just knew it.

[Jason Prowler]

The day was bright and sunny, it was early in the morning and Jason just finished his breakfast in preparation for training. It had been at least three days since he’d done any training exercises since he had arrived. Much of his time was going into getting settled and now he was getting itchy. If he didn’t do something active soon he would begin to get cranky, that’s just how he was.

Jason made his way across campus dressed in a black fitted Under Armor shirt complimented by his black Under Armor shorts and a fresh pair of Nikes. The outfit suited him well as he headed towards the training fields to see what equipment they had there, it was his strength he wanted to test.

Reaching the field he was enthralled by the amount of equipment they had midfield. It was a large running track which surrounded the midfield that contained an array of equipment from pole vaulting to discus throws. It was a site to see, it would seem like this school was training Olympic teenagers. There were other students training on the field as well so maybe there was opportunity here to meet someone new.

Jason had a huge grin on his face as he jogged toward the shot put station. In front of him 5 shots were laying in the grass, it looked to be like no one was partaking in the shot put at the time and Jason was more than happy to give the shots a little attention. There was an already made throwing circle about seven feet in diameter. Jason picked up the shot with his left hand and threw upwards, allowing it to drop in his hands repeatedly as if it was a tennis ball. He immediately knew this may not have been a good idea, the 16 lbs. shot ball was not heavy in the slightest bit, but maybe this would be a grand opportunity to learn control.

He decided not to use a spin, he didn’t require momentum, and he would just throw it and see where it goes. Jason griped the shot and threw it like it was nothing but a handball, it launched from his hand like a rocket flying across the track field sky and beyond. Jason’s eyes widened hoping it wouldn’t hit anybody in the direction it went but he wouldn’t be surprised if the shot cleared a lot of the campus ground. He looked down at the four left over shots and contemplated whether to try to do a lighter throw or not, perhaps a populated field wouldn’t be the best place to do this.

[River Tseung]

What River was not expecting as he sat in relaxation on this nice, pleasant, sunny day was a shot put hurtling through the air only feet from where he was sitting. Jolted into attention, adrenaline flooding his body again, he flailed and fell over backwards off of the rock, landing in a not-so-neat heap with a groan. "What the..." he mumbled, rubbing his head as he sat up. He should have been ready for anything, really, knowing the meta-human training field; with so many different abilities, one never knew what was going to happen.

Curious to see who the thrower was, and hoping to prevent a flying shot put from nearly (or actually) hitting someone else, he made his way towards the shot put station, his heartbeat slowly returning to its normal speed.

He got there in a short amount of time, and peered around to find the thrower. He was still in the throwing spot, seeming to contemplate about tossing another shot. "Hey!" River called as cheerfully as he could, given the near-death situation he had just gotten out of. "Wait!" He ran up to the guy, a slightly nervous smile on his face. River thought he knew him. "Jason, right? Yeah, we have a couple classes together!" He recognized the young man now that he was closer. "Um, anyway, I'd be a little more careful about where you throw those, man. You nearly took my head off!"

He spoke lightly with good humor, hiding how scared he had been at the time. "Oh, sorry, I'm River," he added, offering a hand to shake. "That was a great throw, though, by the way! I'm assuming super strength?" What other ability would enable someone to throw a shot like that? Amazing!

[Jason Prowler]

Jason made a decision not to continue throwing the shot puts; it was too much of a risk to the others that were on the training field. Such a pity, he needed to train in order to control his strength. His thoughts were interrupted by someone that ran up to him on the field. The guy was taller and definitely skinner than Jason, he called out to Jason by name. He looked curiosity on the guy recognizing him from somewhere but he wasn’t quite sure, he must have been from one of his classes.

“Oh bro, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize how far the shot would go, totally my bad. The training field isn’t the place for me I guess.” Jason said as his sincere apology. Jason offered his fist to get some dap “Can’t shake buddy, wish I could but I may crush your hand.” He said with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you River, but yeah you guessed it super strength, more like super hard to control my man.”

Jason then pointed at river shaking his pointer finger, his face as if his pinpointed who River was. “I think I know you now, aren’t you the violin guy?”

[River Tseung]

River shook his head with a smile, immediately accepting the apology. Heh, 'bro'; it was something he wasn't often called. "Don't worry about it! I still have my noggin, so everything's fine." He glanced around the field, frowning. "Seems like there should be a place for you to practice, though! I mean, this is a meta school, so there has to be some sort of equipment for people with your ability." Super strength was a somewhat common ability, too; it made sense that the school would provide for them. River grinned, closing his hand and tapping Jason's fist with his own. "Thanks for not crushing my hand. I appreciate it. And nice to meet you too!" He had been afraid that the guy that had thrown the shot put would be a mean, intimidating figure, but Jason was turning out to be pretty chill already. He chuckled. "Well, it's still really impressive."

Then Jason was pointing at him, and River's eyebrows rose, before he beamed and nodded at the recognition. "That's me! I guess that's something I'm pretty well-known for around here. I usually have some sort of animals following me around as I play, too. Melodic animal manipulation, and all." He laughed. "Anyway, I hope you can find another way to train. Maybe see if your trainer can set up a time for just you to use the field, or something?"

[Jason Prowler]

Jason looked around the training field full of other students exercising; he was scanning the place for equipment that was more targeted towards someone with his abilities. Perhaps he should speak to one of the trainers that they had on campus so they could direct him to what he could use. “Thanks for the compliment, I’ll need to tone it down a little though, the shot puts not for me.” He chuckled. “I’m sort of new to the whole being meta human thing, so the super strength gets the best of me most of the time. “

Jason had his hands rested at his waist and was nodding as River was explaining him his power. “See I knew it. I’m sure it gets you all the girls bro, ladies love a musician. He said with a laugh. “Melodic animal manipulation huh? That’s sounds pretty cool, does it work on people?” Jason asked in curiosity. “I’m going to do just that, I just jumped the gun here. I haven’t been assigned a trainer just yet but I was getting itchy not training for a while , ya feel me? I’m, sure you know how it is. “

[River Tseung]

"Oh, really?" River asked curiously, leaning against a nearby post. "How long have you been at Hammel?" He knew how it was at first - he had at least been expecting to manifest, since both of his parents were meta-human, and at his ability wasn't nearly as physical as Jason's. "Don't worry about it, though - I'm sure with training, you'll get better in no time!" That's why they were here, after all!

When Jason spoke again, River rose his eyebrows incredulously before bursting into laughter. "Erm, that's not exactly true in my case," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Besides, I'm sure many girls appreciate a strong guy like you." Girls were not a subject he often talked about, mostly because most of his friends were female. At his question, River tilted his head, considering. "I've never actually thought about it. I mean, I guess humans are animals too, but I think they're too complex for me to be able to do anything with. It would require some sort of music beyond my ability, at least." Not that he would ever want to use his abilities on a person anyway; he had a hard enough time with regular animals. "Oooh, I see! Well, I'm sure you'll get your trainer soon, and he or she will be super helpful for you!" River smiled brightly. "Oh yeah, I definitely get what you mean."

[Jason Prowler]

Jason interlocked his hands and rested them behind his head, “About a month now, still can’t believe I’ve been here this long already.” He zoned out a for a second watching a couple students run around the track field, he rested his hand back down to his sides and looked again at River. Jason smiled, “You’re right River, that’s why I have to keep training nonstop!” He said with determination.

Jason gave River the same dubious look as River burst into laughter “Dude what are you talking about, I feel like I see you with girls all the time. By those statistics at least one of them has to have a thing for you. You can’t just tell me you hang out with all these girls and not be thinking about something a little more with at least one of them.“ Jason stretched his back a little and then looked up at the sky. “I’m sure there are girls out there that appreciate a strong guy, but true strength lies within. It’s not about showing how much brawn you have, otherwise I would look like an arrogant show off.” He laughed.

“Humans are animals.” Jason nodded in agreement. “If you focus your power I’m sure one day you’ll get the hang of that too, it may help you when you’re in a pinch. Not that you would use it for any self-gain of course. You’ll have to show me how it works on little animals one day” River sure was a positive guy, smiling brightly with constant encouragement. “Yeah I’m sure they will be.”

“How about you River how long have you’ve been at Hammel?

[River Tseung]

"Oh, only a month? Wow." River's brows rose in surprise; he thought Jason had been there longer. They were around the same age, he thought, but River had been at Hammel for almost five years. Time sure had flown. "You'll get used to it! And given you've only had your ability for that long, you're definitely just beginning."

River felt a slight flush touch his cheeks, and he let out another laugh. "I guess I just get along with girls well?" he replied, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't feel the urge to act all masculine and manly around them, at least. Which it great, because I'm totally not either of those things," he chuckled. Jason's words had him vaguely wondering if any of his friends DID like him more than just as a friend, but he dismissed the thought. "Nah, I don't think they're into me like that. And I'm fine with just being there for them when they need to talk or whatever! I don't really think about... Relationship stuff." A quick image of Mia's laughing face passed through his thoughts, making him blink and frown for a moment, but he shook it off once again. She was just a really great friend. He changed his focus to what Jason was saying, nodding appreciatively a few times. "Wise words, man. It sounds like you already know a lot about your own strength, and not just the physical stuff." He gave the guy a big smile.

"Yeah, with some more music lessons, maybe I'll eventually get there," River agreed optimistically. "I'd never use it for anything other than desperate measures though," he added. "But I can totally show you how it works sometime!" He loved showing people his abilities; it was always fun to see little critters come running when he sang or played violin.

"Ah, it's been almost five years for me," he replied, chuckling. "Doesn't feel like that long though." He glanced at his phone then, realizing he had a training session in a little over an hour. How had he forgotten? He still needed to shower, and get ready for Zack's lesson, whatever it was. "Hey, I gotta run, but it was really nice talking to you!" he told Jason, offering a fist to bump. That's what guys typically did with each other, right? Man, maybe he did need some more bro friends.

[Jason Prowler]

“Yeah, haha.” Jason rubbed the back of his head. “To be honest it feels like only yesterday that I got here. My ability is sort of a reflection of that I guess. I’m really determined though so I’ll get the hang of it in no time at all!” He made a fist with his left hand and hit the palm of his right showing his resolve to get things under control.

Jason chuckled and very carefully placed his right hand on River’s shoulder. “Dude, you’re a guy, you’re as masculine and manly as a person can get.” He said with enthusiasm. Jason noticed River’s frown as he was speaking about how he didn’t think about relationships, he winced and nodded listening closely. “Something tells me there may be someone, a sexy little thing perhaps?” Jason teased him. “I don’t mean to pry buddy, but that’s a real sad look, a look of a man whose got it bad and is in denial.”

“Desperate measures are the times we should all prepare for.” He looked up at the sky thinking about his brother, a quick image of them hanging out crossed his mind and Jason has a smile on his face, he looked back at River. “Absolutely, I’m down for a little chill session” Jason played his air guitar. “Some jammin.”

“Five years?!” Jason said with surprise, “you must know the whole campus by now!” River took out his phone, “hey dude cop my number before you leave, we’ll go out, I’ll need a wing man after all, from the sound of it we need to get you out of that friend zone.” He smiled at the kid. “It was nice to meet you too.” He bumped his fist. “I’ll see ya around River.”

[River Tseung]

River didn't feel like a super masculine guy. He wasn't all that tough, or strong, or whatever other stereotyped masculine 'traits' most people thought of when the heard the word "man". Still, he grinned at Jason's words. "Hah, thanks, man. Sometimes I forget." Hanging out with girls all the time tended to make that happen, which he really didn't mind all that much. His eyes widened as Jason spoke again. "N-no, it's not like that!" he stammered, way more flustered than he should be. "I mean, I just met someone that I really like spending time with, but I don't think... No, it's not like that." Was he in denial? Was that possible? He didn't want to think about it too much.

"Mm, I guess it never hurts," River agreed, although he hoped it never came down to that. He wouldn't be well-suited to deal with desperate situations, he thought. He was much too chipper and lived off of positive energy, so he didn't know how he'd do. He grinned at Jason. "Alright! That would be fun." He loved finding new people to jam with.

"Yeah, I know this place pretty well," he laughed. "If you ever need help getting around, let me know! I'd be more than happy to help." River glanced up at Jason. "Yeah, of course man!" After numbers were exchanged, he gave an embarrassed grin. "Er, yeah, whatever you think," he replied, secretly thinking the friend zone was just fine. Right? Yeah, of course. It had worked for him this long. "See ya, Jason! It was a pleasure." He turned and waved, before trotting off and heading to his dorms to shower.