Aimless Wanderings (Open)

[Ashton Harper]

Finally it was over. The divorce was settled and things were starting to mellow out. His mother was still working at the bakery and had rented the apartment just above the bakery that had been used for storage purposes before. His father was left with the house to either sell it or keep living in it. He'd already extended the offer to Ash of living there while he attended college. Ash had politely declined because 1) he had no desire of being around his parents if they were going to down the other and 2) he would be given a dorm on campus which was a lot more convenient.

As far as the puppy he'd recently acquired once his older dog passed away, Max was no longer a small dog and was being taken care of by Ashton's girlfriend. Her dog was keeping the pup in line even if Max happened to be slightly bigger. It was out of respect. Things were still going well between him and Tae, he'd started to catch up with the rest of his friends before graduation and things were beginning to look up.

The free time Ashton now had was what caused his aimles wandering around the campus. He'd miss Hammel. It had been his home for eight years already. Luckily, with his parents' arrangements he would continue to live in Vermont and wouldn't have to worry about visiting family out of state during his vacations. Ash made his way through the courtyard, it hadn't been a typical hangout for him, but he had passed it several times on the way to classes and such. Students were spread out, enjoying the sun and socializing. It made Ash regret that he hadn't made many friends. Of course he had Avinea and Lucy, but he barely had any close guy friends. Well, unless Zac and Braxton counted. Ash took a seat underneath a nearby tree and leaned back to look up at the clear sky.

What would college have to offer?

[Jude Shepherd]

Graduation was nearing for seniors and Jude was a bit jealous that he couldn't do that just yet. His academics was well and taken care of but his powers training was a bust so far. He still couldn't smoke down with his clothes intact and he still smelled like the places he'd wafted through. Those were setbacks that could very well mean he would be stranded somewhere undesirable without clothes on.

Like now, for instance. He had smoked up and unfortunately, a breeze brought him out of his training room faster than he could change back into human form so he was now just floating around the courtyard and if he knew his power, he knew one thing; its time limit was nearing and he knew if he couldn't control his directions, he could very well turn back into solid form right on top of...

Thud!

Jude scrambled off the older boy, turning everywhere to find something to cover his private parts. "Oh shit," he kept repeating, his cheeks burning with embarrassment as everyone around kept snickering in his direction. He looked at the boy he had just landed in front of [thankfully] with a sheepish look on his face. He had covered his front and back with his hand but he was still exposed.

"Um...do you...do you have something on you...that I could use to cover...myself?" He asked, his voice cracking up a bit.

[Ashton Harper]

Ashton had been totally unaware of his surroundings just thinking about what life would have in store for him next school year. He knew that Braxton would be there, and he hoped to God that Brax would just ignore his presence. He had a bunch of friends and 'friends' to worry about, surely he wouldn't notice if Ash was there too. He was capable of being invisible. And he was going to have to be if he planned on avoiding the womanizing boy.

Having been so caught up in his thoughts, Ash was unaware of the drifting smoke. Well, until it fell in front of him. Ash's head snapped up and he looked at the...naked...boy. Oh jeez this was bound to be strange. He tried to look elsewhere as the boy spoke to him because this was just so very awkward. He actually pitied the younger Hammelite in front of him, especially because it very well could've been his fault that the boy's smoke form limit ran out so quick. Power suppression could be good, but then again, it could also be a little rough on people.

Luckily, Ash had been wearing a hoody that he didn't particularly like all that much. He was always wearing some form of jacket even in the summer. Quickly, Ash pulled it over his head and handed it to the boy, avoiding looking at him before he covered himself. "Are you okay?" He asked to be polite. Clearly he wasn't but still, it was polite to ask.

[Jude Shepherd]

Quickly pulling the hoodie towards his body, Jude tried to work around the fact that he had two areas to cover. If he chose to cover his front part only, he would bare his back to the world. But if he chose the back, he would be exposing what was now a quickly shrinking front that was not something anybody should see.

At least the other boy had the decency to look away.

The question had Jude barking out a harsh laugh. "Don't think so." He replied scathingly before sighing to himself. The guy had just helped him. The least he could do was tone down his snark. And he still wondered why he didn't have many friends.

"Sorry...not having the best day today." Jude twisted the hoodie this way and that, trying to figure out how to best utilise the clothing to cover his lower anatomy. "Thanks...for this...I'll try to get it clean before tomorrow. Uh...what's your name?"

[Ashton Harper]

Ashton really didn’t want to see the boy’s uhm…areas. He had seen his own plenty of times to know what they looked like, so he didn’t feel the need to look at the boy while he was naked. His eyes were on the sky and on the trees and everywhere else except for in front of him. It really would have sucked being in the same position as the younger boy. Luckily, none of his friends had pulled a stunt on him like that and with his suppression he never had to worry about his power making him do funky things. To be honest, he had it easy.

Dumb question. He knew it before he’d even asked, and by the sound of the tone he was getting, it was a really bad question to ask. Ash nodded and shoved his hands deeper in his pockets. Well this was awkward, “Uhm, right. Yeah, sorry.” He apologized and chewed on his lip. What was he supposed to do now? This was just plain ol’ awkward. And Ashton Harper did not do awkward well.

“Nah, it’s all good. It was a dumb question to begin with,” Laughing shortly he kept his eyes sort of on the boy’s face, but nowhere else. Really, how was he supposed to look the boy in the eye and be ‘polite’ when he was friggin’ naked? It just wasn’t easy. “If ya can’t get it to me by then, don’t worry about it. I’m uhm, Ash. Harper, Ash Harper,” He began to offer his hand, but realized that if he did that, it would make things a lot weirder, so he pulled his hand back and placed it back in his pocket. “Yours?”

[Jude Shepherd]

Jude was grateful that the guy was decent enough to look away and he really felt horrible being so pissy about him trying to be polite. The downcast look on his face and the ensuing dull response made him feel really bad. For both himself and the guy.

"No...it wasn't. I'm just...I wasn't expecting this is all. I'm just making a really big deal out of this." He offered the other guy a sheepish grin and looked at the offered hand with heated cheeks.

"Um...Jude. Shepherd. I'm sorry I don't recognise you. Big school and all." He nodded, pulling the hem of the jacket down to cover the essentials. "Um...sorry if I landed on you. And uh...sorry for everything really." He sighed, looking down. "Uh...do you mind if I just disappear to get my things first? And uh...maybe we could get coffee or something outside? I mean...I have to repay you for this somehow."

[OH GOD WHY THE LATE REPLY >_< I love you Trix I do. Terribly.]

[Ashton Harper]

Ashton was one to be a pushover. He didn't get mad at anyone easily and he took the blame for everything. The younger boy had a right to be in a bad mood. He had a right to be pissed off. And Ash was glad to be an emotional punching bag if it was necessary. He didn't mind getting snapped at, he just took it in stride and tried to make better of the situation. Not that that was exactly easy in this scenario, but he was still going to try.

Clearly the kid felt bad for his reaction, but still, Ash didn't mind it. He just smiled a little easier and shrugged, "Totally understandable. So was it a cruel joke pulled by some older kids or power issues? Either one is pretty sucky."

Jude Shepherd. Hm. Didn't sound familiar, at all. "Yeah huge school, easy to miss people," He agreed. "You didn't land on me, just sorta in front of me. And seriously dude, no need to be sorry." Ash offered a kind smile in order to make sure the other boy would hopefully find some reassurance from it. The kid seemed pretty freaked, much like Ash would have been at a younger age...or even now. "You don't have to repay me for lending my hoody, but sure we could hang out. I've got nothing better to do anyway," He laughed.

((It's quite alright dearie ^^))

[Jude Shepherd]

"Power issues." Jude glared down at his indecency and gave up on covering his back. "If it was a joke, people would be dead by now." He grimaced at how serious he sounded. He toned down the malice a bit and nodded gratefully when Ash reassured him of the opposite of what he had thought.

"Okay, okay cool. Nah, I just gotta." Jude replied to Ash's insistence that he didn't apologise. Of course he had to. It would be on his conscience forever if he didn't.

"I need to. I don't want you to think I was ungrateful or whatever. Um...give me like...ten minutes. Meet me at the entrance?" Jude ran to where his clothes were and made his way out to the entrance to wait for Ash.

[Ashton Harper]

Ash nodded and smirked slightly. He could understand power issues, and he also understood jokes, but unlike the younger boy, he wouldn't have retaliated if it had been a joke. Ash was just too much of a pushover to do anything mean like that. Who knew, maybe this kid could teach him how to man up and actually stick up for himself? It was one thing for him to be protective of his girlfriend because, well if anyone screwed with her, he had to step up. It was what boyfriends did. Though for some reason he didn't feel the need to step up if someone was screwing with him, he just took it and let people walk all over him.

"Alright, alright. Apology accepted, now there will be no more apologizing from you," He said in a mocking stern tone. He was just messing around with the kid because to be perfectly honest, if the boy apologized again, he'd probably just shrug it off. Ash was the same way, always apologizing even if he didn't really do anything.

Nodding again, Ash understood. He knew the boy was grateful, hell any guy would have to be unless of course they didn't care if someone saw their manhood hanging out there (bad choice of words). "Ten minutes, entrance. No problem." Ash turned his head again when the boy ran, bottom showing to the world. How unfortunate. Jogging back to his dorm, he grabbed yet another hoody (because he can't go without one, nor did he want the one that had been covering...stuff) and made his way to the entrance. He spotted Jude and waved, "Good, you got your stuff. Less awkward looking at you now." He laughed and shoved his hands in his hoody pockets.

[Jude Shepherd]

Had Ash actually asked Jude to help with his self-esteem, Jude would have looked at him weirdly with his mouth gaping open before walking away in utter confusion. Self-esteem was not what Jude himself had in abundance. He just didn't take shit from other people. And that was something nobody could actually teach.

Jude gave him a little smile when Ash pretended to scold him. That was an odd thing to do considering they couldn't have been that far apart in age and they were both boys. But it amused Jude so he didn't say anything about it. At least the guy accepted his apology.

At Ash's acquiescence, Jude hurried off and went to the gym where a number of girls [and surprisingly guys] turned to look at him in...awe. Of course, he heard the laughs and snickers but he concentrated on the silence as he gathered his clothes and ran off to the nearest toilet to put on some pants at least. Once that was settled, he ran up to his dorm to get his wallet and change into his own clothes. He threw Ash's hoodie into his laundry basket, intending to get to it before the day was up. He dashed back down to the entrance to find Ash already there.

The blonde's opening line had Jude's cheeks heating up. He bumped against the older boy as he walked out of the compound. "So you're graduating this year, right?" He asked, glad to get off the topic of himself.

[Ashton Harper]

Ash was working on his own self-esteem problems. Tae was helpful with it, but she couldn’t give him confidence all the time. There were still times when he was alone that people pushed him around because it was easy. He was nineteen years old and still couldn’t fight for himself. Plenty of people had showed him that. But he was trying. Eventually, maybe he’d get it.

Noticing the smile, Ash returned it and relaxed further. His awkwardness would hopefully fade as the night went on because he really didn’t know how to act around new people sometimes. It was sad really. He’d always been socially awkward though so it was no surprise. It was a wonder he scored a girlfriend with as smooth as he was (which he wasn’t…at all).

It didn’t take long for Ash to make it to his dorm. The only part he had trouble with was getting past Dom who was always so relieved when Ash stopped by because it gave him relief from meta-tracking. Somehow Ash always felt guilty leaving the dorm when that kid was there. He made it out quickly though and arrived a few minutes before Jude had. No surprise there considering he had to change clothes and everything.

Ash smirked when Jude bumped into him on the way out. He couldn’t help it, it was the truth after all. As they walked Ash looked ahead, occasionally glancing at the other boy. At his question, Ash nodded, “Yupp. I’m going to the university here though, probably come visit Hammel and all of the teachers every once in a while. How long til you graduate?”

[Jude Shepherd]

Jude nodded at Ash's response even though he didn't share the older boy's views. Once he was done with Hammel, he was going far away from here. He wanted to go home. He wanted to see his baby sister and his mother and just pray to God that his sister doesn't turn out to be a meta.

"Feels like forever," Jude laughed awkwardly as he shrugged. "Um...in a year. Probably. If I can get a hang of changing forms with my clothes that is." He sighed. That was the hardest part of training. It was a good thing he had a room to himself with his trainer but rooms still had windows and incidents like the one he was in earlier had happened way more often than Jude would have liked.

"Your training...have you passed it yet?" They were finally out of the school compound and turned into the main street. "Like...are they satisfied with your progress?" This was the most Jude had said in forever and he didn't know whether he should be impressed or sad.

[Ashton Harper]

Ash couldn't think of leaving Vermont. He'd spent his whole life there, and even if his parents were being slightly difficult at the moment, they were still his parents. Not to mention, he was getting an apartment with his girlfriend and he didn't have to worry about leaving anyone behind. Not Avi, not Dom, none of his friends. It was nice being able to stick around and maybe if him and Tae had kids, he could raise them in the same area he was raised. That was what kept him in Vermont. Possibilities for the future.

Ash laughed and nodded, he could understand that. It had taken so long for him to leave Hammel, and though he would miss parts of it, he was happy to be graduating. One more year, "It'll go by fast, don't worry. And as for the power thing, just practice consistently and it should help. I had to practice with a lot of different powers and burnt out a few times, but after a while, I got a hang of it."

To be honest, Ashton had been surprised that he passed the power training as quickly as he had. Of course, he'd learned how to suppress at will and he'd gotten a longer distance down without much of a headache forming. His future as a recruiter (maybe) could be very bright. "Yeah, I passed. It was weird because I didn't really think I was at the point of passing yet, but they said I was ready. Doesn't mean I won't still work on it and that's probably what they want, too. Not perfection, just improvement, ya know?"

[Jude Shepherd]

It must be nice to have a fixed plan. Jude didn't. Well, not counting the fact that it was definitely fixed that he was leaving Pilot Ridge once he graduated Hammel. ...if he graduated Hammel.

"I know I should practice and I do I just sometimes...it's mostly mind over matter right? But it's just...I can't find that thing inside me that controls my powers you know? It's like...I'm human but I have this blood mutation that makes me turn into smoke and everytime I turn into smoke I lose my clothes so...how do I bring my clothes with me?" Jude was frowning as he talked. He knew he probably didn't make any sense to Ash.

And he also realised he was talking...a lot.

"Sorry. I uh...heh." He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. "But yeah...I guess. I mean, I know some of the adults metas around still don't have that huge a grasp of their powers and are always growing into them. I just hope I get to graduate with everybody in my year. I don't want to get left behind." He said quietly.

They turned a corner and entered the town square. "Uh, so you drink hot chocolate...don't you?" Jude patted his jeans and nodded a little at the presence of his wallet.

[Ashton Harper]

Ash had just recently developed his plan of action after graduating. He hadn’t been expecting his relationship with Tae to have lasted so long, and that had been a huge deciding factor. He didn’t expect to pass his power training, also a huge deciding factor. It had been this year, actually, a few months ago that he’d actually decided what his plan was.

Surprisingly enough, Ash could understand rambling. He often did it himself so, he could follow what Jude was saying easily. “It can be difficult, reaching that part of your mind that is in control of your power. With mine, it was always super hard because I’d have to be around a group of people which only caused a headache and then I’d pass out if I tried too hard. I’m not even sure when I found that part of my mind to be honest,” He said with a shrug. All Hammel students, former and current, would be able to relate to what Jude was saying. It came easier to some and difficult to others.

At the apology, he just wanted to smack the boy upside the head like he’d had done to him plenty of times. Always apologizing. “You should be fine, it’s usually in the last year that the most improvement happens I think. I mean, it was that way for me at least. Personally, if you’d asked me a year ago when I’d be graduating, I wouldn’t have had a clue. Probably woulda said never,” He laughed and shook his head. It was true, at that point, he thought he’d never get out of there.

Heading into town he looked around and glanced at the other boy. “Hot chocolate? Hell yeah!” Ashton exclaimed with a laugh at his own enthusiasm. That was unexpected.