A Second Obligation [Alex]

[Ann Hudgins]

She wasn't late to class this time, so she would have been good, had the teacher not pre-assigned the partners for the project. Thank the Lord it wasn't Zac--she didn't even have this class with him (which was great, because now they were...friends...he took every opportunity to sit with her, though randomly he would just leave or talk to some other girl--whatever). She was partnered with...Alex something-something. He seemed nice enough, she really didn't know much about him--or any other kid in her class. She'd just hung around the room long enough to arrange this meeting she was now heading to in the library.

She smiled and nodded her head slightly at the librarian, Eli. He was a great person in her eyes because of what he did for her during the dreaded Talk. She honestly didn't need to be there and was slowly, if not surely, losing it sitting in the back, and he had miraculously taken her to safety. A girl just didn't forget that sort of thing. However much she was grateful to him....she hadn't spoken to him since that incident. Because, what in the world was she going to talk to him about? She already knew how to use the card catalog to find a book, so she didn't need his assistance for that, and Ann wasn't a person for any sort of small talk.

She sat at the predesignated table, and spread out the books she had chosen to begin her search. They needed to find a way to build a structure around an egg that would keep it safe from breakage, even when dropped off the roof. Ann thought it was a stupid idea and the waste of a perfectly good egg. Their teacher mentioned if he found a boiled egg among the ones used, there would be bad repercussions. That was cheating, and Ann was high above that.

She figured looking at building blueprints and some phyiscs books would help give them an idea. After this, they would probably have to go somewhere to gather supplies to build the damn thing. She tapped her fingers on her book as she waited--she had arrived early on purpose. Ann was generally always early. She was raised to be punctual and it was just habit now.

(hope you like the project. It was Sean and Lynxies idea =P)

[Alexander McKenzie]

Much like Ann, it was unusual for Alex to be late to, well, anything. Except for the rare morning he slept in, he was usually up and going in plenty of time. Unless Conrad got to shower first, and he took too long. Then he could be late, running from their shared apartment to the school. That morning, he’d gotten the shower first, pulled on clothes he was pretty sure were a) clean, and b) his, not Conrad’s, then he’d taken off with a shouted good bye at his best friend.

He’d sat through several classes that morning, including his least favourite. He wasn’t fond of physics. He knew it was important, sort of. But half the stuff they learned, he couldn’t see a real world application for. It led to his attention wandering more than once. At least until the partners were assigned for their newest busywork project. Toss an egg from a high place, and keep it from breaking. It didn’t sound all that complicated. He already had a few ideas that might work. As the partners were given, he cast a shy glance at his new partner. Ann. He knew a little bit about her. Namely that she was an empath, and she really preferred not to be touched.

Well. This would be interesting. At least she wasn’t immature, or obnoxious, like the majority of their classmates. Of course, Alex was one of the oldest students still at Hammel. He was finishing up his last year of classes (he’d missed a good chuck of school when he was younger, and ended up repeating a grade), and really wanted to gain full control over his power before he left. Really, if he wanted to, he could just head to the University of Vermont, and keep on training at Hammel. It wasn’t unheard of.

At the end of class, he’d quietly spoken to Ann. They both had some time before the next classes started up, so they’d agreed to meet at the library. He wasn’t far behind Ann, just a few minutes. But he smiled when he saw her. After nodding a quick hello to Eli, he headed to the table and slid into the seat across from her. “Hi, Ann.” It looked like she had a start on things. “... Please tell me you have some idea of how to accomplish this. Because apart from wrapping the egg in bubblewrap, I don’t have a clue.” At least he was honest.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann was finishing out her last (school) year at Hammel as well. It would take a miracle, and several more miracles, for her to be able to leave at the end. She would probably rot in here for a few more years, gaining control of her power. She could probably take college classes online or something while she wasted, but for the most part she would just be training hard-core. She'd probably have to get a job somewhere in there, too.

At the sound of approach, she turned slightly to see Alex walking towards her, she nodded her head slightly at him and turned back to her books, she flipped through each of them, though none of them really helped. She imagined one of those tiny Dixie cups holding an egg with a plastic bag over it like parachute. "Hello Alex," she murmured in reply to his greeting, a tiny friendly smile on her face. She didn't know much about him, only that he looked older than everyone else, and while everyone else seemed...childish, he did not (at least in physics).

She grinned a little at the mental image of tossing an huge roll of bubble rap off a roof with an egg (somewhere) inside it, and lifted her hands over the table to adjust the books in front of her, then she mimed with her hands while she said, "just some sort of apparatus, I suppose. I saw something with a parachute attached to the top with some sort of...holding underneath. I mean it would have to be weighted right so the parachute ballooned out properly. But uh--we could check the computer? Maybe there are like...schematics there where we could find something doable, right?" She asked looking at him, her hands still poised in front of her. She lowered them to her lap.

[Alexander McKenzie]

Thankfully, Alex had been here for four years already. He was well versed in training, and since his entry into the school, he’d gained a great deal of control over his power. It was just the side effects he was attempting to overcome now. He hated the way his senses dulled once his force field was up and running, and he hated it even more that his hearing seemed to be the one most reluctant to return to normal. Everything else, he’d gotten control of. He was hoping by the end of the year, he’d make enough to just graduate and go.

At least Ann had some idea of how to do this. And she had books out. That was a step further than Alex had gone. Admittedly, he’d rather think about working on a drawing of his than how to save an egg from certain death. But if he had a willing partner, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. He’d been paired with students before who had slacked off and left him to do the majority of the work. He didn’t do that to his partners, and he didn’t expect them to do it to him. Not that it stopped it from happening. Ever.

The grin he earned from his quiet classmate made Alex, in turn, grin. He didn’t see her smile like that often. So it was nice to see. “That actually sounds... logical.” Actually, it sounded extremely logical. Better than bubble wrap. He pulled out his textbook and notebook, and though he eyed his sketchbook, it stayed in his backpack. He was here to work, not goof off. “I wonder if that’s cheating. I mean, this project is really old. If we used the internet to look up designs that worked... is that cheating?” He started flipping through his textbook, wondering if there was something useful in there. Probably not. It was jam packed with boring formulas, but not much else. He didn’t even notice that his tattoos were fully exposed. He never noticed. They were just part of him. “... We could try to combine the two ideas?” Maybe that would be a good idea?

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann wasn't so lucky in the 'training' department. She'd spent her first three years here...curled up into a ball, really. It still is a surprise she didn't go insane. Nevertheless, she'd really only been training these passed handful of months. She'd crossed several thresholds already, but there was a looooong way to go before she was deemed 'in control.' If ever at all. Ann had already resigned to the idea of remaining at this school doing something or another her entire life, until she died or her power killed her--there was no way she would live as long as 'normal' with this much stress on her life.

Just because Ann had books out did not mean she knew what she was doing at the moment. Physics was her worst subject, and while she still made an above-average grade in that class she did not like it or retain any of the information. Ann usually carried the full weight in partnership, with or without or partners consent or even knowledge of the idea. Most of the times in the past, when she was even assigned a partner, she would do the project in the following day and when her supposed partner later approaches, she would tell them it was finished. And if the partner just sat back and did the work, Ann did it without pause. She just wanted the good grade.

She blinked. Logical? She hadn't been called that before. It just seemed to make sense to her. Parachutes on people, or cars, were made depending on the weight they would be carrying, so it would still count on a smaller scale. Right? "Checking the computer for...ideas is not cheating. That is just proper researching." Ann turned her chin up as she reasoned their decision to look on the computer. Sure, they had something of an idea starting to bud, but neither really knew what they were doing. "Combine the two?" Ann looked back at Alex, from looking at the row of computers off to the side, her eyes passed from him, to his text book, to his arm, where there were lots of tattoos.

Ann had seen many before, her parents had several each themselves, but they also told her that only a certain type of person got them. She didn't agree with that at all. She'd met several heavily tattooed folk when she was little and liked the ones she met, so why judge them all on what her parents said? Ann had kinda played with the idea of getting one later in life, when she could handle such an intense moment with someone touching her (they wore gloves though, right?) She realized she was staring and cleared her throat. "That's a lot of tattoos to have already," she blurted, "I mean it took my dad at least four years before she got two tattoos." So he had told her. "They are cool, though. Well drawn."

[Alexander McKenzie]

Unlike Ann, Alex had been able to dive right in. His old school had been a nightmare for a number of reasons, made worse by classmates he’d gone to school with for years. It didn’t help that his power had first reared its’ head in the middle of a crowded hallway, during a scuffle with another student. He... didn’t like to talk about it, much. Talking about that led to topics he’d rather leave alone. It was why he liked Hammel. Most of the students here were great, and what was better, very, very few people knew anything about his history. If he was talking to people, he’d edit. Hammel was full of “freaks” as it was. He didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to single him out any more than he already was. He was content with being the quiet, older kid with the tattoos.

Physics wasn’t a class that Alex enjoyed, but he figured it was worth the hassle, just in case. He was starting to look at college and university courses, and at least if he had his bases covered, he’d have more options. But that didn’t mean he had to like it. Sometimes it was interesting, but most of the time, when they were doing formulas, it was just boring. Much like math. At least the project had more of a point than formulas. If nothing else, they’d get to see some eggs drop to their doom.

At least looking up ideas wasn’t cheating. Alex just shrugged. “Sounds good, then. I was just thinking there might be ideas that actually worked on YouTube, or something like that.” It was hard to tell what would be cheating and what wasn’t. Still, he leaned back in his chair a little, nodding at her question. “Yeah, we could get a little plastic tub, wrap the egg in bubble wrap, if we can find some, and attach the parachute. It might work.” Or it might crash to the ground in an unholy mess of egg guts. Hey, anything was possible.

He didn’t notice she was looking at his arms. Not right away. He was now trying to figure out if he had any little plastic tubs at home that were near empty that they could use. And considering asking Conrad for advice. He probably would have done the same project, right? He could have also failed miserable. Which just made him grin a little. He liked giving his best friend a hard time, and if his project hadn’t worked, and theirs did, there would be bragging. But that little train of thought was stopped when he heard Ann’s voice. For a moment, he was confused. What did tattoos have to do with phys – oh. He glanced down at his arms and smiled, fondly brushing his fingers over the artwork. “Yeah, I know. My parents let me get one when I was sixteen. It was kind of... a special thing.” The orange ribbon that went up his left arm was the first one he’d gotten. It was the one of the only ones he really hadn’t drawn himself. (Really, how hard was it to draw a ribbon?) The cartoons down his right arm were all his. He also had constellations, and the Batman symbol. “I drew most of them myself,” he admitted, his fingers tracing the outline of one on his right arm. “Once I have a design I like, I wait until I have enough money, and then I get it done.” He was working on what he was planning to be one of his last, now. A phoenix in flames. It was safely stowed away in his backpack, but if the conversation stayed on this track, it might not be hidden for long.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann's middle school hadn't been bad--not really. Ann was a people-pleaser, and while she wasn't terribly popular, she had friends and didn't run into problems. That is, until her power manifested and she spent one completely hellish day in school, thinking she had gone absolutely crazy. Someone would bump her and she would faint, and she would be feeling all these things and experiencing them, with no knowledge as to why. It was another four agonizing days at home (her parents knew something was wrong and did not make her go to school) until the recruiter arrived. Her circumstance really didn't improve when she arrived at Hammel, but at least she knew she wasn't crazy. Her parents hated her guts and everything she was, though.

The major reason why physics was so hard, and a subject Ann hated, was because it was hard for her to teach it to herself. Math was almost in the same boat, but at least she had a calculator for it. Ann had a hard time focusing on the teacher, in any class, and always went over the material in class in her dorm or the library, everyday. She'd do the work she missed in class and her homework without complaining and then turn it in the next day. Most teachers didn't mind this, because it was really the only thing Ann could do--unless every teacher she had wanted to set aside an hour every day to teach her privately-until she got control of her power and could shut out everyones emotions.

"Mmm, something like that," Ann agreed to his idea about youtube--something she had only recently discovered. "I was thinking something along the lines of an informative site that had.. maybe different ways it would work. I mean, there can't just be one right answer to this. Right?" Ann didn't really see how building something small (they had been given a size limit) with any design would really stop an egg from cracking. It was an egg. It was supposed to crack. If a baby chicken can crack an egg before it can even walk or see straight, then there is no way an egg can be dropped from a roof, of any height, and not break.

She felt that he was confused about her comment, which made her confused. He had tattoos, so...maybe he was just really used to them? Her father said that happens with the good ones. The bad ones you always know are there, and wish you could scratch them off. "Nice parents. My mom got so pissed when I asked for a piercing when I was fourteen." She still kinda wanted a lip ring--she noticed his--but she didn't really have the money laying around to get what she 'wanted' just what she 'needed.' "You drew them?" Ann looked a little amazed, and impressed. She could not draw to save her life, at all, and she respected anyone that could draw well. Alex, even more so, because he had drawn tattoos and was so young (not compared to high school students, but compared to artists and such).

"That's so awesome. I'm jealous." Ann had no problem admitting it. Not that he could draw and she couldn't--she could accept that--but because he could do something so...personal and uncommon (so she thinks). Ann just didn't have something that was 'her own thing' like that. She didn't feel like she was any sort of special, and believed that what Alex did for himself was. It was awesome, just like she said. "I think if I got a tattoo, my parents would kill me, even now." They'd always told her that the 'bad' people got tattoos, even though they had them. Hypocrites, much?

[Alexander McKenzie]

Oh, Alex’s school itself hadn’t been horrible. There had just been a select few people he’d gone to school with for a long time that had seemed determined to make his life difficult. There were few things that really pushed his buttons. Normally, he was exactly how he was at Hammel. Calm, mature. But those particular students had known the triggers, and he’d been involved in a few minor scuffles. He’d already been different to them, and then his powers had surfaced, and he’d been more of a freak. It hadn’t made those last few days in Chicago very easy.

Physics bored him in that it wasn’t interesting. He liked sitting through Biology, because there was a good deal of stuff he already knew. He had one of the top marks in that class, and the best part was that came fairly naturally. He’d smirked his way through the units about the immune system, as well as genetics. But physics just wasn’t as interesting. Still, he did the work, and he did it well. At least until they hit projects like this. Then, he was at a loss.

“Oh. Well, that’s different. I’m sure we could find something, because you’re right. There has to be a few different ways to make this work.” Projects like this were always weird. You had the students that didn’t try, the ones that did, but failed anyway, and the ones that threw themselves into the work. Really, Lexy would be content to be in the middle category. So what if it didn’t actually work? As long as they tried, they would still get a decent grade. It was that simple.

In his defence, Alex was only confused because he’d been focusing on the project, and he’d thought Ann was, too. So the sudden topic change was a surprise, but a good one. If there was one thing Alex didn’t mind talking about, it was art. Though he comment about his parents made him shrug a little. “They’re... a little weird. Really overprotective, but at the same time, they let me do a lot others might not. Like the tattoos, and the metal.” It was probably a very strange arrangement to anyone that didn’t know the reason behind it. His parents were just... like that. They wanted to protect him, but they’d also given him his freedom a long time ago. As long as they knew he was safe, and where he was, they were okay. He nodded at her question. “Yeah. I did. These ones, anyway.”

She was jealous? Really? He looked a little surprised. “Everyone’s got some kind of talent. I just kinda... advertise mine.” He shrugged, then reached down to pull out his sketchbook. “Most parents probably would. Of course, once you’re eighteen, they can’t do much about it.” That had been a relief, once he’d turned eighteen. No more consent forms. Eager for a reason not to focus on the project, Lexy flipped through the book until he stopped on the flaming phoenix. Gingerly, he tapped the page. “That’s the next one I’m going to get. Once I finish it. And I have enough money saved.” If only “bad” people got tattoos, then Alex was an anomaly. He looked intimidating (if you forgot he was a bit of a shorty), but once you talked to him, it was easy to tell he was far from a “bad” person. At least Ann didn’t seem scared of him.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann was a big stickler about practicality. To her, Physics (at least the vast majority of it) was not practical because it was not used by her actively everyday. Someone may argue that she did use it everyday, but without knowing it. Her argument for that is if she uses it already without knowing it, then what was the point of learning more? Ann didn't like wasting time with idle or meaningless things, it was a surprise she made it through all her high school math and algebra classes for the same reason (and really, she barely did) but she could suspend her belief because it was a requirement for her graduation, therefore it wasn't meaningless. She should do the same for physics, but again, it was a subject she did not like and had to teach to herself. It was a relationship that would just never work out.

"Let's hope so," Ann murmured while she continued to flip through the books she had in front of her, still she had not found their single golden solution and she was ready to forget searching the books entirely and just hitting the internet and see what shows up. Ann didn't really take failure, on her part, very well. She was raised to work and try hard, every time, even if you didn't like what was in front of you. If she couldn't work through a stupid physics project in high school, then how was she ever going to make it out there in the real world, where it isn't about making a good grade, but getting a paycheck.

"Oh. My parents were that way too...sort of. They wanted to know what I was up to most of the time, yet never wanted a thing to do with me, you know?" Ann wasn't really bitter about it, as long as she left a message on either of her parents phones with an estimated time home, they usually didn't follow up and call her. It also wasn't like Ann was a huge partyholic when she was twelve either. Her after school plans usually had her going to her fighting class with Aiden, or hanging out with him in some sort of fashion. "However they made it very clear to me that body modification wasn't a positive thing if you wanted to be taken seriously." Ann snorted, though, showing her disagreement with her parents teaching. She watched as he flipped through his notebook and looked at what he was tapping at. In short, it looked amazing, and Ann’s jealousy was anew. Because damn if he could draw something. “That’s so incredibly good.” Ann said with a small exasperated shake of her head. People with just so much talent just sorta threw her a loop.

[Alexander McKenzie]

If Alex actually got into the field he wanted to be in, he supposed physics would have some sort of use. Maybe. So, he slugged through it. He supposed the more interesting classes, like Biology and art made up for it. He usually did his boring homework first at home, so that he could have the more interesting stuff to look forward to. And if he got stuck, well, it helped that he lived with a college graduate. Particularly one that dealt with science. At least he didn’t struggle with the material. It was just the boredom. Which was usually when things like Sharpies came into play during class. He’d listen to the lectures. He’d just be making henna-like designs all over his hands in blue or green. Or purple, before he lost that marker.

Really, he was fine with internet research. Or, if he really felt like stooping low, asking Connie for help. But there was a hell of a lot more self satisfaction in doing it himself, and bragging if it worked. So far, the bubble wrap/tub/parachute seemed to be an okay idea. But who knew what they’d find on the ‘net? “Yeah,” he replied softly. Really, he just wanted the project done with. He was even okay with getting a less-than-stellar grade about it. It just wasn’t that fun. But he liked his partner well enough. At least she wasn’t goofing off. He knew from experience there were a few students that would be screwing around about now.

Ah. So there were differences between their parents. Alex’s own were still... well... they definitely wanted to be a part of his life, even though he was in another state now. He still talked to them on the phone, and emailed. “Mine want a little too much to do with me,” he admitted. Not that he blamed them. He was sure he’d be in the same boat, if it was him in their shoes. But he wasn’t a kid anymore. Her comments about her parents’ view on body art made him shrug, however. “I asked to get my first one, and they agreed. At that point, they were just kinda... I don’t know.” He really didn’t want to get into it. “They just let me get away with a lot. Guess that’s what happens when you don’t have siblings.” It was a poor excuse, and he knew it, but it was better than the truth. At least the distraction of his phoenix derailed that. Or so he hoped. He blushed a little. “Thank you,” he murmured, leaving it open. “Once I have enough money, I’m going to get that one tattooed.” And hopefully, it wouldn’t be long.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann had absolutely no clue what she wanted to do, as a career, after she left Hammel (if she left Hammel). She hadn't really thought so far a head, though if she was lucky, she really could get through college and graduate and not just live at (or near) Hammel her entire life. She loved Hammel, but she knew in the future, some part of her would like a life away from it, even for a little while. It wasn't even a fully formed dream, just in its earliest stages. She knew she couldn't think about leaving until she could shake someone's hand without falling down, or screaming. She had a lot of work on that front before the idea of majoring in a subject in college would come to mind.

If the thought had occurred to Ann, she probably could have sent Aiden a text and asked him if he had done the project and how that went. As much as Aiden was completely random, he was smart enough to partner with the smart person in class. Ann slowly closed the books in front of her, all useless, and stacked them to the side. She knew where they went on the shelves but she would still put them on the front desk, like one was supposed to do with books, after they were done here. Which reminded her, she really didn't know what they were going to be doing about supplies. Mr. Hawthorne had said he would provide the egg, but Ann knew she didn't have the makings of an egg-saver in her dorm.

Ann's parents only recently (like last month) had started regularly talking to her and giving a shit. Which that probably wouldn't have happened, ever, unless Ann hadn't called them in the first place. They really had behaved like children about this but Ann still....kinda...loved them. She certainly didn't respect them anymore, from how they acted when she 'turned' meta. They hated it. They resented her. But Ann didn't like to think about it. She was better now, and they seemed to be over themselves. "I'd probably get a tattoo now just to spite them. Then again, I was always kinda on the fence about getting one." By always, she just means when she just 'recently' started living again after three years of purgatory. "I was an only child too! But my parents let the other neighborhood parents have their part in raising me as well, well once I started school and made those life changing friends on the bus." Oh, those really were the days.

Ann leaned in closer to the notebook, to get a better look at it (it was so pretty). "It's so awesome. You should draw my tattoo...when I...figure out what I want. And am able to get one." Which could really be in thirty years, or maybe even never. She knew tattoo artists wore gloves, but Ann was much to afraid of touching to pay to get touched and needled like that. She could imagine getting one, though. There was no harm in that.

[Alexander McKenzie]

Alex had a few ideas as to what he wanted to do. The first was easy. Study astronomy. Watch the stars, learn more about them than he knew now. (Which was a lot, for a nineteen year old.) If he didn’t do that, he wanted to do something science-y. Maybe something in genetics, or research. Maybe not meta research, like Connie, but research nonetheless. Maybe he’d move into the medical field. Okay, he had ideas, but absolutely no direction. He was pretty sure if he wrote “something science-y” on college applications, he’d be rejected before they got past his name. Oh well. He had some time to figure it out.

Supplies? That would have been a good thing to discuss in class. Well, this was when living off campus would probably pay off. Alex was certain he had something at home he could use as an egg containment unit. As for a parachute… okay, he’d probably ask Connie if he could think of anything. Beyond tearing up an old t-shirt, for physic’s sake. He could get at least part of the thing going. And he was pretty sure if he looked, he’d find some bubble wrap in his room. That was half of the thing done already, if they stuck with their parachute/tub/thing.

Being an only child had saddled Alex with parents who had always been attentive and adoring, but it was only after his sixth birthday they’d become the protective, overbearing people he knew today. Granted, they’d been better since he’d turned eighteen, and actually recognized that he was more or less an adult, and he was capable of doing things on his own. The fact he was meta hadn’t bothered them. In fact, they’d preferred it to certain other news they’d gotten. The way Ann talked about hers, however, told Alex a lot. He decided not to push anything regarding her parents. “If you did that, you’d grow to resent it. Trust me.” Though he didn’t have any himself he resented, he’d spent enough time in tattoo shops to know it happened. “I always knew I wanted one. I just didn’t know what, until… I don’t know. I had something worth commemorating like that.” Awkwardly, he rubbed the tail end of the ribbon tattoo. And just like that, Ann had shot down his excuse. Of course she was an only child, too. He’d have to come up with something better. Something other than the truth, preferably. “… Mine… just… kinda wanted me to be the boy in the bubble, keep me safe from everything.” He shrugged, hoping that the topic could just die off. If he didn’t want his step, he’d land himself in trouble.

Watching Ann study the drawing, Alex felt just a tiny bit of pride. He was used to people liking his artwork. He just hadn’t expected Ann too. She was so quiet, and reserved. But her little offer made him grin. “Really? Of course I’d design it, if you wanted me to.” It would make him quite happy to do that, actually. And he wouldn’t even want payment.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann was as generally fascinated about astronomy and astrology as the next high schooler, but she didn't find it...well practical. As great as the stars were to look at, and google when you were done with your internet research, Ann had no want or pull to look any deeper into the very vast amount of knowledge out there over the stars and universe. She knew her Zodiac and where Orion was, and could tell the difference between The Big and Little Dipper, but that was as far as it went. Whenever she tried to grasp the idea that there were billions of galaxies out there with billions of stars that are billions of miles apart, her brain malfunctions a little because of the shear vastness of it.

As long as their egg didn't explode in a slow motion Fail in front of the entire class, Ann really didn't care what they used to make it, as long as it worked. It probably would have been a good idea to actually brainstorm what they would need to actually make the damn thing (other than the bubble wrap of course) and then planned on acquiring those materials. As it was, however, Ann didn't exactly feel like focusing on it, and that tattoo held her attention like a baby to a ceiling fan.

"Oh I definitely couldn't get something I didn't love completely. My parents just have a way of making me want to be everything they don't want me to be, you know?" Which, in a completely ironic way, was just like them. Ann's parents didn't want her to be anything like them, which made Ann want to be what they didn't want, but in turn would make Ann something she disliked in the first place and didn't want to be. Maybe it was just the teenager in her wanting to get out and rebel, or maybe her parents were just ignorant, single-minded, douche bags that didn't grasp the concept of 'hypocrite.'

Ann had heard, through TV and kids her age in school, about parents being over protective of their kids, but Ann had never once seen it first hand, so she wrote it off as a myth or a vast misunderstanding and a difference in definition. However, she believed what Alex said about his parents wanting him to keep him in a bubble. She...felt what he was feeling, and while she had no idea how to even begin to put it into words, she understood that his parents were just...like exactly how he said. She also got the very readable hint that he wanted to drop it. So she did without being curious as to why.

"Awesome," she responded happily to his approval and acceptance of her (half-joking) suggesting. "I will let you know...once I decide...on what to get." She laughed slightly when she tired to start thinking of something she would like to see on her everyday. Nothing came to mind immediately which told Ann that she just wasn't quite ready for one. She had once (fleetingly) thought about getting all seven symbols of the energy chakras, which was where her power thrived. However, she shot the idea down because of the cliche of getting words and symbols in a different language (Sanskrit in this case). She certainly didn't want something tacky (and she had no idea where she could get the Brow chakra symbol--certainly not on her forehead).

"So. Egg-dropping things. What sorta tube should we get? Like a bit of PCP pipe, or make one out of egg carton material or...? And the parachute could me...made out of a plastic bag for simplicity, or something like jogging pant material. I forget what that is called. Polyester? Maybe?" That was Ann trying to get back on topic, because this project did need to be completed, preferably before Ann got a tattoo.

[Alexander McKenzie]

Alex had no idea what had first attracted him to the stars. He just remembered finding comfort in watching them when he couldn’t sleep. He’d started to learn the different patterns, how to recognize the North Star. His slight interest in anything at that point had spark something in his parents, so they’d given him a few books on the topic. It was a subject he really did want to learn more about, which was exactly why he was willing to suffer through physics in order to get into university.

The nineteen year old was about as eager to see their egg explode as Ann was. He did not want to go home at the end of the day and admit defeat to his best friend. It was making him put the tiniest bit more effort into this thing. Damned if he was going to resign himself to teasing for failing such a silly project. But talking about art was so much more interesting.

He grinned at Ann, glad to hear she’d only get things she’d love. It’s what he’d done. He didn’t have a single one he regretted. “Parents do that. Well, most parents.” He’d heard so many complaints about parents from his friends, both back home and at Hammel. “It’s too bad. Though, from what it sounds like, maybe it’s a good thing, in your case.” His own parents, he really couldn’t complain about. Sure, they could be overbearing at times, but no one could blame them. Apart from that, they were loving, supportive, and he loved them.

Oh, his were overprotective. Up until he was six, they were fairly freedom-orientated. They’d taught him manners, of course, and he’d had boundaries. But he’d been free to work within those boundaries, and he could remember being quite happy. From six to ten, he remembered being vaguely frustrated with not being allowed to go and play roughly (even though he knew damn well he couldn’t, even if he’d tried) with the kids in his neighbourhood. As a teenager, he’d had a better understanding of why his parents were so attached, and acted as they did. It was a subject he was glad Ann was willing to leave alone. Otherwise he would probably end up telling her, and she might be one of those kids that decided he was a little freak, or they could somehow “catch” it from him. Yes, he’d experienced both. It wasn’t nice.

“Cool,” he agreed softly. He’d most definitely draw something for her. He’d done it before. A few people had tried to pay him, but he’d declined. Why would he want to get paid doing something he loved? Looking at his own collection, it might have been difficult to tell, but he actually did like each one. Yes, even the Batman symbol. Even the ribbon that sparked more questions than he might have liked. But that one was an important part of who he was. Just because he liked to hide it didn’t mean he wasn’t honest about it.

Right. Back on topic. Physics. Egg. “I don’t know. I’m sure I have an old tub thing I could use at home. Just something little and plastic. It should be light enough to be supported by a parachute.” As for the material for the parachute... “A heavier plastic bag might work best. Less chance of a tear.” He thought this over. “I might have most of the materials to pull this off at my place. I can bring them tomorrow, or something.” He didn’t mind being the supplier of the materials. He might have suggested that Ann come over to work on it, but that just seemed weird, when he lived off campus. So he kept that suggestion to himself.

[Ann Hudgins]

Ann had yet to really find a topic or subject that she could really through herself into. She loved running, and working out, but those were hobbies. She couldn't do those things as a career (well she couldn't work out anymore now.) Again, though, she really couldn't explore her interests or anything really until she can get over her power handicaps. She understood that it would take her time to be able to do that, however, because she spent the years, she should have been training hard and 'exploring,' she spent curled up in a ball.

Ann was honestly excited about seriously thinking about getting a tattoo. The symbols for the chakras was a festering sort of idea, maybe if she mentioned to him (not now though) he would be able to come up with something. Because, honestly, those symbols were the only things that really meant anything to her.

She started to think again, about the weight of the container, and the size of the parachute they would need. It would be hard to rip a bag apart and then put together in a larger form, but they would have to experiment with it when the time comes. "Ok yeah, that sounds good. Uhm...I see if I can't find anything else, and then we meet back here tomorrow?" She started to readjust the books in front of her because she felt their meeting here was coming to an end--now that they had decided what they were going to bring, the next step was to gather the materials, which would take another day. She was fine with that.

(The level of SUCK in this post is so high, I can taste it. Mmm sorry.)