The Empty Park (Open.)

[Charlie Becketh]

Charlie wielded a sword between two hands. She knew it wasn’t a very good idea to be practicing with weapons in public, but her apartment was being painted, and she couldn’t stand being in the same house as her parents anymore. No one could take away her sense of freedom, and they were treating her like she was a little girl again.

It was like she had to prove this to herself by playing with weapons. The park she was throwing her sword around in wasn’t vacant, dark, and perfect for hacking and slashing away at nothing. Charlie assumed no cops would show up, and if they did, it would be obvious to her.

She was totally engrossed in what she was doing, very aware of her surroundings. It was late at night and she doubted any creepers would be around, and if they were, they weren’t likely to approach a crazy brunette with a sword in her hands. Charlie moved with precision, each stroke specific in weight and intention. She had never stuck anyone with any of her many weapons, but she liked the way the light played on the blade, and for some reason, swinging it around gave her peace of mind, and low and behold, brought a smile to her face. She could forget about Spencer for a few moments.

But muscles grew weary and the late night was hitting her and she sat on a nearby bench, something the park had plenty of. Charlie slipped the sword back into its sheath and pushed her hair out of her face. “I could really use a coffee right now,” she said to herself, fiddling with the hilt of her sword. It was special to her, and she called it Swift, for it was.

She stared at the lack of snow beneath her feet, closing her eyes and letting the world envelope her, seemingly letting her guard down. Her long elegant fingers gripped the hilt suddenly, her eyes opening at the sudden movement nearby. She wouldn’t be caught in a park in the middle of the night. Whoever was coming would have to face her face to face.

[Derek Schneider]

Derek was just coming back from a party, and a drink.

Only to witness his college friend having a fight with several other college students, Derek bailed as fast as he could. He shook his head, the thought of the whole scenario still in his mind. The duplicator was just about to make a shortcut through the park, when he heard a girl say stuff to herself. Dusting the snow off of his shoulder, the duplicator watched her get alert as he came close by. Knowing if he got any closer, a naive girl with a SW--- the girl had a sword. Derek knew if he got closer, he was going to be attacked.

Activating a duplication, the duplication nodded towards Derek, and held his fist up high. Walking towards the girl, the dupe remained behind Derek as if it were a tail. “What the hell are you doing out here?” Derek couldn’t help to ask.

Taking a few steps back, he didn’t know what the girl was going to do, but he recognized this girl, she was from Hammel.

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[Charlie Becketh]

Charlie automatically rose as a blonde guy about her age approached, her sword exposed and raised up into the moonlight in one swift motion. "One more step and you'll be cut in half," she took a look at the other doppleganger behind him, "both of you." Her lips twitched into a smile as he spoke, obviously not looking for a fight. She lowered her weapon and surveyed the duo. He was meta - typical. Having an ability like that would be mighty useful in fighting, it was like having a body guard at all times. She thought it was pretty cool, pretty, interesting.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, but you're the one sneaking around behind me," she said, putting the sword away. "I was just practicing, don't mind me," she said with her hands raised, palms facing the boy. He seemed a little bit out of sorts, like his senses were on too high on an alert. And he smelled like the bar.

Charlie was still wearing her half grin. "I don't usually do this," she touched the hilt, "but I can't practice at school, so this seems to work out." She shrugged, and then stood her ground. She was here first, and she wasn't done practicing, although it seemed like they could both use some coffee.

[Derek Schneider]

Backing up as she threatened him, Derek nodded, and chuckled softly as her straight face turned into a smile. She noticed he was meta. Even thought they weren’t meant to use their powers out in public, Derek could care less. He adjusted his pea coat, and looked around.

Duh, no one usually does this stuff. Derek thought as she said this, and he chuckled. ”I hope I didn’t intrude!” Derek said, as the girl still held the hilt of her sword. Being quite intimidated, Derek hesitated to ask if she wanted to go to the local Diner, to get hot chocolate, or coffee.

It was late anyway, the twenty four hour diner always accepted people at eleven. Derek’s duplication still stayed back, being quite intimidated of the female. The twin of Derek scratched his head, and frowned. “This girl is nuts man!” The dupe said, whilst looking towards her sword. Even though Derek was thinking the same thing, he gave a quick facepalm to his duplication. “Shut up before I make another dupe to shut you up!” Derek said. Looking back to the girl with the sword, Derek crunched his shoes in the snow. “Let’s get some coffee? I’m buyin’.”

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[Charlie Becketh]

It was hard not to notice he was meta. He didn't have to worry though, she wouldn't report him if he didn't report her. All's fair in love and war right? Fighting was fighting. "It's a public place," she said, her attitude snarky. He might've been intruding, but it wasn't like he was breaking and entering. Charlie smirked as the two bantered back and forth.

"Is that your way of not getting hurt by a crazy girl with a sword?" She asked, eyebrows raised. She couldn't help herself, this guy made it too easy. "Appease her with coffee?" Charlie toyed with the sword again, taking it out and spinning it on the tip of her finger, holding the hilt in her other hand still. Nothing happened, no blood was drawn. She was just thinking about how wise it would be to go out for coffee with someone she didn't know and had finished having a few drinks of his own. She contemplated all this while staring at him, giving him a once over. He seemed pretty afraid of her, he wouldn't do anything stupid.

Charlie went to a nearby garbage can and put her weapon within, covering it with a paper bag. No one would be riffling through that later except her. She turned back to the blonde. "How many duplicates can you make?" She asked with curiosity, pulling her sweater tighter around her slender body. They had to talk about something on the way to the 24/7.

[Derek Schneider]

Derek winced a bit every time the coldness blew into his face. He shook his head as his clone disappeared back into his body. “Yeah, it is.” Derek said, answering her first question. His thoughts wandered whilst he and the girl were talking, his memories started to muddle, and shift, closing his eyes tightly, Derek tried to clear his mind. It took a bit for Derek to clear his mind, but he looked towards the girl again, and smiled.

“Yes coffee,” The blonde said, after seeing her place her sword in the public trash can. He sighed whilst she did this, but it was the least of his worries. Derek has wondered why he’s barely seen her around Hammel, he spotted her at some of the training assemblies, but not during class. They were most likely the same age, but Derek wasn’t sure. He was about to turn Seventeen in two days, but this told Derek he was about to graduate Hammel.

Contempt to enjoy the fact that he only had one year left of freedom, Derek was still dependant on free food, and shelter. The duplicator smirked while walking with the girl, after seeing her play with a sword, and not getting cut was weird. “No cuts? You’re a tough girl, and I could create up to five. It’s a pain though, they all share different memories, so y’know.” The duplicator stated. The girl pulled her sweater closer to her body, and he smirked.

“I could give you my jacket, I’m not cold..”

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[Charlie Becketh]

Charlie took another look at the boy and decided he needed coffee more than she did. Hopefully he didn't have too long of a night ahead of him. Thing was, he didn't see her much at school because she didn't spend a lot of time there. One, she had a full time job, so high school was taking a back seat, maybe even an even seat. However, she didn't like people that much, and most people couldn't handle her bad attitude and she didn't want to be a burden on anyone. She didn't go out of her way to meet people, this was simply a random occurence.

Charlie was eighteen already, but wanted to perfect her powers. Hammel wasn't a regular high school that simply kicked you out once you did a mediocre job. No, she wanted to do her best. Like everything else with life.

"Five? Wow." She said, nodding a couple times. The memory thing would be annoying though, maybe there was a way to remedy that? Hence why she wasn't totally ready to graduate yet. "Tough," she sighed, glancing at him, "yeah, that's me." Charlie could feel herself getting drowsy, that's what she blamed for being so friendly.

"No thanks," she said, raising her hand, "tough girl, remember?" Charlie offered a force smile and continued walking in silence. She didn't need anyone, mostly because she couldn't rely or trust anyone. "One of your clones might need it later anyways," she said to his offer, not thank you. Only in Pilot Ridge did someone offer to get coffee with a complete stranger, who they may or may not have seen at school, who had been playing with a sword.

"You don't feel strange around me?" She asked, referring to the sword of course, but the question could be taken a number of ways.