Ridiculous (Jared)

[Jared Park]

“Yup, a negator,” he nodded, “You know, someone who has the ability to negate or temporarily suppress a person’s powers.” There were far many times when Jared wishes his powers were to be negated, even for just a day or so. If only he could just find a student power suppressor in school. “I’m not sure if Mr. Fjiki needs to direct his powers to someone or he employs an area of effect thing, but rest assured he’s a very effective power suppressor.” Being put in a freshman class exposed Jared to a whole lot of ‘emergency scenarios’, despite being relatively new to the school. His first time was when an earthquake-maker got extremely angry with his seatmate and suddenly lashed out. Another was when a telepath went out of control all of a sudden. Sure there were scary, and more or less dangerous, but the staff was very much trained on how to handle such situations and was able to minimize, if not at all eliminate, the damage done by the said instances.

“Really? You think I can learn how to dodge and escape easily? So the apocalyptic movies, may it be zombies, robots or plague, are actually fairly accurate?” he asked, laughing as he flexed his arms to condition himself for the sit-ups. “I usually think they’re exaggerating the whole I’m-the-last-survivor thing, especially when all the people involved have guns. And that even the most ordinary citizen can effectively wield such a dangerous thing. Not to mention the apparent disregard for their bullets and stuff. I mean, they just shoot and shoot and shoot,” he laughed, memories of good and bad end-of-the-age movies running through his head, “Nonetheless, I’d just stick by you whenever that happens. I’ll be the parasitic leech that’ll only bring you down, but you can’t leave because of his apparent dorkiness.”

“Don’t worry much about your psychic wound, the administration will figure it out eventually. They have handled a whole lot of cases before, I highly doubt yours is that much different,” he said, giving Lani a sympathetic smile. He could see the worry in Lani’s case about talking to Dr. Neville, but he read it as fear of a doctor rather than fear of being found out, or something else. He somehow shares that fear of his (evidenced by his reluctance to approach Dr. Prideaux when he experienced a weird power-surge/adrenaline-drive once) so he can actually tell Lani that it’s all in the head, or so he thinks.

Jared grew silent for a bit as he started on his crunches (as he saw Mr. Fjiki stare at him again, apparently thinking/knowing that the young boy’s stalling the routine like he always did). He huffed and puffed for quite some time, his eyes focused on one point on the ceiling so as not to get too distracted, but still strived to attentively listen to what Lani is saying. He lay down lifelessly for a bit after he finished his first round of 20, then sat back up and smiled at Lani. “I know. It’s just more fun to think of it that way, don’t you think?” A little humor doesn’t really hurt, or so Jared says. He knows the earth is all dark and grimy, but he still would like to see things in a bright light. The love his siblings gave him were apparently enough to make the child as optimistic as ever.

“Have I ever!” he beamed, chuckling as he wiped the sweat off his forehead, “I could be the world’s best robber if that happens! I’d be like the legendary Lupin or something.” Really, Jared wasn’t taking all the stuff he’s saying seriously. He might be somewhat serious about learning how to be sneaky, but being a great robber wasn’t really his dream.

“Aha! You are one ticklish boy!” he laughed, giving Lani a few more pokes on his side. Jared, ever the playful kid, loves the friendly ticklish poke. Ask most of his friends and they’d tell you that when silence comes between them, Jared is always the one to break the silence by his random poking. “I envy you. At least you had muscle definition. I’m all skin and bones,” he said, rubbing his arm to emphasize his point. Jared wasn’t really skin and bones, but he lacks body fat a bit too much that he almost always feels that he is indeed a living skeleton. “Your turn now,” added Jared as he broke free of Lani’s hold on his feet and assumed Lani’s previous position.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani nodded listening, temporary. He liked that word. It help a sight amount of comfort that it wouldn't be gone forever. But still he felt like if it was out of his hands and he couldn't touch it when it came back it would hurt like when it first manifested. That was what really terrified him. The pain would make it even harder to control and if they negated it again it wouldn't help it would just come back just as strong and just as protesting. The idea of the feeling of the back of his mind being blown out was not something he wanted to repeat. "I see," he said belatedly. He smiled a little, clearly Jared had missed his unease, better to keep it that way. He smiled, "Good to know." At least it was true that he wouldn't hurt anyone. Though he wasn't sure how it worked with the mind but he wasn't sure how exactly one would negate his power but he was sure if he couldn't at least touch it he would freak out.

He nodded, "Its not that hard when your life depends on it. Trust me the adrenaline starts pumping then you just let your body do the rest." He considered the rest and shrugged, "Well I highly doubt zombies will ever happen but robots I actually would not be surprised about." He laughed a little, "Especially not now." He nodded in agreement, "Like Resident Evil..." He felt like such a nerd for making that allusion. "Well anyways I'm pretty sure there would be more people alive than the five that they show in movies. Also all the bad guys die in those things which I also doubt would really happen." He raised a brow, "Yeah good thing I don't need bullets, yeah that is kind of odd though that they all have enough ammunition even though everyone is dead." He laughed at Jared's next comment. "I guess as long as you stay out of the way," he quirked a brow, "Though in the case of a robotic takeover you won't want me around cause they can see me."

He nodded a little bit, "True, you're probably right." They had had mental students before and he was sure he wasn't the only one that got blasted by their power manifesting. Also it was probably more often then not that they got severe headaches because of exactly that kind of thing. He didn't want to let people go digging around in his mind. He thought he would be molested in some way having no secrets anymore. They could see every memory, even those he had forgotten. What if they saw that he was a bad person who lived on the spoils he gathered. What if they saw it fit that he be cut off from the world. There were too many what ifs to make him comfortable with such a thing. Though many were severely impractical and unrealistic they were still lingering worries at the back of his mind.

He shrugged, then again he didn't have a very humorous outlook on the world. Comic books were ways to escape but now that seemed almost like it could be real. It was almost like bringing those things a little too close to home now. He sat back a little when Jared finished his first set. He cocked his head to the side, "I don't know stories are supposed to be just stories and now I'm not so sure." He said cryptically. He lived on telling Caroline stories during her most painful times and he had always consoled his mind that they were not real and he was not some hero who was going to save the world. Also people like him in comic books always turned out to be the ones that were conflicted and went with the evil side of things. But unlike comic books the world isn't separated by a line with the good and the evil, it was gray and everyone was mixed with both inside them.

Lani smiled and let out a small laugh. He reached out and patted Jared's head. "I'm sure you could." He said like he was talking to a child. "That's not exactly something you want to aspire too. It was blatantly obvious that Jared wasn't serious. "The greatest don't get nicknames." He pointed out. Lani didn't have a nickname, he was known as several isolated cases of robbery. Those that got caught had nicknames the ones without were the smart ones.

Lani's eyes widened and he fidgeted away from the hands blushing a little bit. "I am not." He protested but he was outed. He gave Jared a joking glare and switched places with him. He rolled his eyes, "You sell yourself short." He lay back and took a deep breath he really hated crunches. Keeping his eye on a ball that had gotten itself stuck in the rafters he went at it. Around number ten he started breathing hard and his mind focused on the ball and wondering how on earth it had gotten up there. He finished and lay back taking silent deep breaths and watching the ball. "How do you suppose that happens?" He pointed wearily up and felt the distinct tug of his power and the ball plummeted. Right at them. He gasped and 'grabbed' it. He let it fall slower and it rolled harmlessly away but Lani's heart was racing. "I'm so sorry, are you ok?" He asked looking at Jared with his eyes wide. Why did his power have to be such a trouble maker. He glanced over at Mr.Fjiki who gave him the unmistakable 'come here now' gesture.

Lani swallowed, "I'll be right back." He shook his feet free and walked over to the teacher. "Sorry..." He began but was cut off as the teacher flew into lecture. He initially felt sorry now he was angry. He went on and on about how he needed to control his power and that power use was strictly forbidden in gym and how he would suppress his power if he needed too. Lani lashed out, snarling, "You think I meant to do that? Its not like I'm not trying." Mr.Fjiki replied in a rather gym teacher like way, "Two laps." Lani started to protest but he just pointed and Lani went on his way seething the whole way. He rounded back to Jared no longer shaking with rage but rather quietly nursing his anger. "Geez, don't give me a break at all." He seethed to Jared softly.

[Jared Park]

“Really? You think my adrenaline is enough to keep me alive at least a few days after the initial strike?” Jared chuckled at the thought. He sees himself as the clumsy, overtly dependent kid who’ll never survive on his own. Probably because he’s been taken care of ever since he was young, and not really having the responsibility to look after another, that Jared’s been pretty much helpless on his own. And while his big brother has done quite a number of ways to teach his youngest brother to live on his own, Jared somehow finds a way to fail every time. It is actually a miracle he’s managed to live on relative solitude (at least with Jasper reminding him once a week to do his laundry, arrange his stuff and all that) for around two or so months already.

“I actually think a zombie apocalypse would be more probable than a robot one,” he nodded pensively, “Seeing as we’ve destroyed/mutilated nature so much. Who knows when a virus might suddenly evolve that’ll be that dangerous. Or maybe even a synthetic one made in the lab escapes, like most of the movie plots. That’s scary.” He let a nervous laugh as he tried to imagine the world infested with mindless zombies. “I just wish they won’t be the smart zombie kind. That’ll be hell.”

“Nah. Whatever type of apocalypse that may be, I’ll be sure to tag along behind you,” Jared joked, “I mean, telekinesis is one of the most awesome and powerful powers. So what if the robots can see you, you can easily take them apart without lifting a finger. Or hurl zombies halfway across the state with just one thought.” In theory anyway. “What’s the use of being invisible to them anyway. If I could somehow extend my invisibility to machines to having the power to scramble electrical systems, say doors and security systems, then that would be amazing.” He grinned, adding, “I’d be unstoppable.”

“You’re scared Dr. Neville might not like what he’ll see, right?” Jared figures Lani’s have some secrets he’d rather not other people to find out. hence his apprehension at the thought of having a mindreader help him heal. While Jared doesn’t have too deep of a secret to hide, he know the feeling of wanting to keep some things yours and yours only. Giving the older boy a sympathetic smile, he added, “Don’t worry, Dr. Neville won’t tell on you. He’s such a nice man. And he’s been a telepath for the longest time, I doubt he’ll find anything you won’t like him to know too surprising. Betcha he’s had a few students with worse secrets than yours. His opinion of you won’t change one bit. And I’d rather be wary of those new telepaths than him though,” poking Lani once more. “I’m sure whatever it is you don’t want Dr. Neville to know isn’t that bad. You don’t look like that type.” Jared sees Lani as a very nice kid, albeit a bit more wary than usual (which is not exactly a bad thing in Jared’s book). Apparently Lani’s secret life never once did cross Jared’s mind when he tried to think of possible secrets Lani may not want Dr. Neville to see.

“I so could,” Jared laughed. If only sneaking out and stealthily taking stuff are both acceptable in Jared’s book, he would’ve told Lani to teach him how to already. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depends really), it wasn’t. “Meh. I may look like a goody-two shoes kid, but I’m really a rebel inside. A perfect cover, don’t you think?” Jared laughed, whispering to Lani to further emphasize his seriousness. “Then they aren’t that great then,” he said, rolling his eyes, “If you’re great, you aren’t afraid to leave your trademark, knowing full well that even if they study that object closely, they’d get nothing really.” Apparently Jared’s idea of a great heist is like that of the movies, big, extravagant and overly glorified. “So, will you teach me how to be sneaky then?” he joked, giving Lani another playful poke.

Jared laughed at the notion of him selling himself short. In his eyes, he was really helpless in everything. It’s not false humility, it’s the truth. “No I don’t,” he said with a smug, “Is it my fault I’m really this normal? I am not like you, Mr. I’m-very-ticklish-under-all-these-muscle.” He watched in awe how Lani looked like he was perfectly at ease when he started. That is, until he reached his tenth.

“What happened?” he asked, confused as to what Lani is saying. He tried to look at what Lani was pointing to and all he saw was a ball flying straight at him. “WOAH!” Jared shouted, instinctively curling into a ball, hoping his frail arms would be enough to protect him.

Jared felt like a fool bracing for the impact when apparently, it didn’t happen. He looked nervously at Lani, who apparently is just as shaken as him, if only a bit more composed. “W-was t-that y-you?” he asked cautiously. Jared then realized just what he meant by extremely powerful but with no control over. “Guess gym class really gets the worse out of people, does it,” he said, trying to give Lani a sympathetic smile to tell him that it’s all good. He was rattled, sure, but now that he knows it was Lani, and since he knows his situation, Jared actually felt sad for the boy. Especially now that Mr. Fjiki gave him the face.

“I’m so sorry I freaked out,” Jared said, feeling so bad for Lani. He didn’t know what Mr. Fjiki told him, but with the downcast expression he has on, surely it wasn’t anything pleasant. “I shouldn’t have shouted that much, sorry.” He really feels like he was the reason why Mr. Fjiki got so mad at Lani. “I know, I’ll just join you later. So you won’t feel too lonely, ok?” he asked, holding both of Lani’s hands happily, trying to cheer the older boy up.


ooc:
There. Modified the formatting.^^.
Again, sorry Izy. >.<
-Jam

[Lani Hunter]

Lani nodded, "Adrenaline is a powerful thing. Its basically what fuels every drastic action ever done." He shrugged, "I mean considering we all survive the first attack anyways. I don't know there are a lot of human beings out there I find it hard to believe that everyone will die." Lani couldn't image such a thing in a million years but either way if an apocalypse were to happen he had always hoped not to be around to see it or not live to see the aftermath. He wasn't sure he wanted to live if there was no one else left in the world or if there was any form of apocalypse. It was just terrifying. He did believe in a robotic take over more than a zombie one. It just seemed so far fetched that Lani couldn't wrap his mind around the possibility that it might happen but then again Lani had never believed any of this meta stuff was real either.

Lani raised a brow, "Really? You think so?" He shrugged, "I don't think that's even possible." Lani snorted laughter, "God forbid. The mindless kind are creepy enough as it is. I don't like how they just pop out either I feel like I should be able to see them coming." He shrugged, "It is scary though I feel you." He nodded it was terrifying thinking that that might actually be possible. He hoped nothing like that would ever happen in his lifetime but if it did he would definitely hole up in Alaska or something and hope zombies would freeze over. Lani laughed a little at Jared's nervousness. "Its so far fetched." He said with a smile, "But then again who knows that there's not some lab fifty stories underground making it right now." He widened his eyes in mock terror. It was actually unsettling to think about. He wondered if it was possible, like what if someone was using meta-humans to do something like that? He shuddered a little and shook his head hoping to offset the motion.

Lani raised a brow. He was really getting sick of everyone talking about how awesome this power was. It was powerful, to powerful to control, and it was a literal headache most of the time. He shrugged, "Who knows if I'll even survive?" He shot back at the comment, "What if I'm one of the bad guys? Or an intelligent zombie even? What then?" He asked leaning toward Jared his icy eyes boring into Jared's willing him to think about how bad that would be. Lani leaned back laughing, "I doubt I could make them cross state lines." He nodded enthusiastically, "Maybe you can?" He wondered, "Maybe you can learn there has to be some kind of thing like that. Or maybe some things are just defense and others are offense?" He raised a brow again not really sure why he was still talking about this. What purpose would it serve to talk about an apocalypse that might never come.

Lani was taken aback at how obvious it was about his fear. He gritted his teeth and listened with apparent calmness. He shook his head, "I'm not afraid of what he'll see." He said stubbornly. "I don't want my mind muddled with I don't know what it'll do to my power." He lied. Jared had hit it right on the nose. What if the doctor saw his past and present secrets and tried to stop him. What if the doctor saw his plans to sneak out and foiled him? What if Dr. Neville tried to change him. Convince him in some way to stay here and forget about college. He shook his head at Jared he had no idea. He was pretty sure he had the worst secrets of anyone here at school unless there was someone here who had once killed someone. He had several secrets that he did not want people digging through and it wasn't just about the robbing people it was the sinful love he felt for it. It was basically a drug addiction that he didn't want to break. He was like an alcoholic that knew what he was doing was wrong but had no intention or desire to stop. Maybe that made him evil. Or susceptible to evil. What if they kept an even tighter watch on him than they did now?

Too many what ifs. Lani shook his head rid of them. That was one of his many talents to completely shove something out of his mind that was unpleasant. Lani gave Jared a skeptical look when he said he was a rebel. He highly doubted that. "You don't want to learn that." He said airing more on the serious side than Jared was. Lani was actually a little insulted by the comment about the great ones not being the ones that are named. He smiled a little, "I'm sure but the police are good and they will catch people who leave signatures. There are always people out there who can recognize signatures." He laughed and twisted away batting at Jared's hand as he poked him, "Stop that!" Lani exclaimed in mock annoyance. "If you really want to." He said with a shrug. "Sneaking is an art." He said waving his hand like he was talking about fine wine.

Lani raised a brow at Jared but didn't comment. It was rhetorical and he was none to happy about Jared knowing about him being ticklish. He winced when he pulled the ball from the ceiling God knows he would do something like that. When he caught it he didn't miss the terrified cry and fetal position that Jared adopted. Lani was just glad he'd been able to move the ball before it hit Jared. Jared wasn't the only one that had screamed. Lani bit his lip hating the cried of terror. At least no one knew it was him besides the teacher and Jared whom he nodded at. "Yeah... awesome isn't it?" He said unkindly.

He blinked in shock at himself, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean that." He added quickly. He nodded to himself he just wanted to lash out at someone and unfortunately Jared had been in the line of fire then the teacher and he hadn't cooled at all when he had run the laps. He nearly picked up another ball and launched it somewhere. He shook his head and clamped his power down. The slow headache started and when Lani came back to Jared he felt enough control to gently let the lid off.

Things shifted as the power burst out of its confinement but it was nothing too noticeable he hoped. Lani smiled softly, "Why're you sorry?" He asked baffled. "Don't worry about it I nearly screamed myself." He laughed a little trying to shrug it off though he was still dangerously close to turning this place into a hell hole. Lani smiled gratefully at Jared. "I'd like that." He said. "Hey I..." He never finished his apology because a sharp whistle called the class's attention. Apparently everyone was already done by this point and Mr. Fjiki didn't feel like waiting on Jared and Lani to finish.

[Jared Park]

“I see. It would be very nice if your powers had something to do with adrenaline then. Like maybe enhanced adrenaline production or something,” Jared nodded in amusement. Of course every power other than his own is awesome. “You’d be very strong, incredibly fast and have super acute senses, but only for short bursts of time. Limited, but awesome nonetheless.” If Jared had that kind of ability, gym class wouldn’t be much of a problem anymore.

And back to the apocalyptic talk. “I think human beings will. I mean, sure cockroaches will inherit the Earth come a nuclear fallout, but since it’s just a zombie or a robot invasion, I think we’ll thrive,” Jared answered. Despite not understanding Darwin’s theory of natural selection fully, Jared believes that somehow, the remaining few will survive and change and adapt to the drastic change, if ever that happens. And somewhere in the back of his mind, he actually believes that being a meta-human is the next step in human evolution. Sure it was farfetched, but that’s what you get for having a meta-human child read too much comic books. “But if ever that happens, would you rather survive or not? For me, I’m not so sure. Part of me wants to survive, just for the sake of it, but seeing that I won’t have access to the nice luxuries we have now, another part of me just says die,” he said, letting a soft chuckle escape him. Amazing how far they went on from their apocalyptic thought really.

Unfortunately for Lani, Jared somehow took the lab-underneath-doing-research a bit serious. If a meta-human school can exist, who says such secret facilities can’t either? Maybe Area 51 is really true. Then there are UFOs found? Such absurd thoughts ran over the boy’s head. “Let’s just hope that no secret lab exists then,” he said as he found no logical comfort in the thoughts he’s having.

“Bad guys are fun, I guess,” he said, shrugging, “If you are one, then I’ll join you. You wouldn’t kill lil’ ol’ me right?” He laughed, making a cutesy puppy face. “So you’re saying you’re an intelligent human being now? I highly doubt it,” he gave Lani another playful poke on his side and a nudge on his elbow to say that he’s not serious about it. True, it’s the first time he’s met Lani, but he highly doubts he’s your typical dumb blonde.

“Fine, fine, you don’t like Dr. Neville that much now,” Jared said, hoping to close the issue. He has a feeling that he’s somehow his the target head on, but he’d rather not probe Lani about it. A guy’s got to have some privacy, he figures. Maybe when they get a bit closer. It’s not like this is the last gym class they’ll share together anyway. “Maybe you should try Dr. Prideaux first then, the school nurse. She’s the side effects expert. Or try asking help from some of the mentalist trainers, like Mr. Kilbourne. He’s a bit different that you, but I think mental powers work roughly within the same parameters.”

“So you are an expert!” Jared said, his grin reaching his ears. “I envy you. I’ve never snuck out, not even once. My brother keeps a tight hold on me back home. And when he left for college, my sister readily assumed the role,” he explained, extremely excited inside, “I really want to learn. Like really. You should definitely teach me. Though I’m not sure I’d be the best student though.” Dancing involves a lot of muscle memory and Jared assumes sneaking out involves something like that too, only in a different area. He just hopes in case Lani does teach him how to sneak out, he wouldn’t be such a difficult case.

He gave Lani a hug and a light pat at the back when he said sorry (Jared is a bit of the physical kind). “D-don’t worry about i-it,” Jared said, still a bit shaken but happy that he knows nobody got hurt. “I don’t know. I just felt like Mr. Fjiki got really angry with you because I screamed like a girl. I should really learn how to stifle my screams,” he explained. He also felt that the reason why people see him as a gay guy is because he’s much too soft. He really couldn’t blame himself; he’s tried changing, but it just didn’t work.

At the sound of Mr. Fjiki’s whistle, the younger boy aptly stood up, giving his hand out to help the older stand up. “I guess I really have to come with you after class. We’ve only managed to finish a third of a third of the routine. Which makes it a ninth, right? I dunno, math has never been my strongest suit.”


ooc:
Sorry if it's not that good. I don't know what's happening to my muse lately. >.<.
-Jam
[/font]

[Lani Hunter]

((Don't worry its really good:) ))

Lani nodded. "That would be pretty epic," he agreed. He had actually thought that there was a power like that or at least similar to that. He thought that there was pretty much anything could be a power. He had been mistaken apparently. Somehow he felt that there was a limit to what could be powers. He had yet to see anyone with a power like that. He had seen strength and other things several times. Telepathy was popular as well. He shrugged, "Everything is limited in its own way be it that the power is limited or that the power limits the person." He shrugged he was sure he got the second kind of limitations. Control was the problem and it did limit him greatly because he shied away from trying new things with his power for the fear of what it might decide to do.

Lani shrugged again, not really sure how to respond. He nodded and then shook his head like he was changing his mind on a whim. "I don't know I think if anything were going to happen it will be a nuclear holocaust rather than the others. Though I feel like if will not be as easy as you think. Zombie movies are very thorough." Lani was sure people would adapt and change but he had a feeling that he had been given these powers for a reason and he was sure it wasn't just so he could turn the lights off after he was already in bed. Lani scratched his chin contemplatively. "I don't know I don't think I would want to. It depends on who else is left alive or rather probably if there is a chance to stop it but if I were the last person alive I think I would rather die than live through something like that." He smiled at Jared's response. At least he was honest, "Yeah I don't think I could go without a shower." He smiled and resisted the urge to ruffle Jared's hair. "Lets." Was all he responded to the comment about the lab. He severely doubted such things existed and if they did he would probably go there and just let his power go.

Lani smiled slyly at the next comment. "That depends." He laughed at the puppy face. He blinked at the comment about his intelligence. He flinched away from the poke and grabbed Jared putting him in a headlock. "I may be blond but I'm not stupid." He laughed and gave Jared a brief run of his knuckles over his head before letting him go. He laughed carefree despite the morbidity of the conversation. Talking about the end of the world wasn't the most light hearted conversations and even less comforting Lani's thoughts about becoming evil. But Lani then again didn't believe that any of that, short of him becoming evil was possible and the latter he didn't want to think about too much. "And keep bringing comments like that and we'll have to see about keeping you around." He winked with a large grin.

He smiled actually glad that Jared wanted to drop the subject. Lani was stubborn and would protest something even if he was wrong until the end of time. He nodded. "I might have to these headaches are getting hard to deal with." Lani said touching his head he didn't have one now but there was a constant dull throb of the area where his power rested all the time. He just wanted that to heal so bad. It amplified his headaches when he had them and was constant like a mental thorn in the foot.

Lani was shocked at the vitality of the answer that Jared gave. "Maybe once or twice. I didn't have really strict parents." Lie. Lani wasn't going to let it slip even a little bit that he was a thief in this place, such things here were strictly taken care of. Lani had yet to be caught at anything thing yet and he had been able to mail some thing to his employer. "It's not easy." He warned. It had taken him since he was seven to get as good as he was and he was sure Jared without any experience would not take well to a crash course in sneaking. "It's not as glamorous as it seems," he explained further, "Its hard and dangerous and one slip up can cost everything."

Lani's eyes widened as Jared hugged him. He stiffened a little at the contact, he had not been given a hug since he had gotten here. Slowly he patted Jared with one hand and quickly broke the contact. Lani smiled, "Don't worry I probably would have screamed too. Plus you weren't the only one I think Mr.Fjiki has been waiting for me to screw up all day though." He said sending a glare in the direction of the teacher who returned it in a authoritative way that made Lani's skin crawl. Lani wasn't sure if it was the careful eye he was keeping on Lani or if it was the fact that there was something more sinister going on.

He took Jared's hand, "Sorry," he said when Jared commented that he would probably have to stay after as well. He walked over to the rest of the group and heard the worst thing that could have ever passed the lips of the teacher: Dodge Ball. Great a contact sport where he could easily be man handled and given the chance to use his power. He had a feeling the teacher might be testing his limits and his control. He wasn't completely honest with the trainers about his limitations and his lack of control even if they had a pretty good guess. This was the perfect way for the teachers to get him to break down and discover really how much control he didn't have. He frowned, it really was all a conspiracy.

[Jared Park]

Jared simply nodded as Lani talked about powers and limits. He was amazed on how Lani actually has a point there. He hasn’t really given much thought to powers and limitations and it’s actually the person who is limiting his own power. Given those two classifications though, Jared would have to bet that he’ll most likely belong to the first group, those whose powers were just so limited. He could barely make himself visible, much less extend his unique bioelectric field to another person or even a small object. He someday hopes to be able to use it offensively, effectively shorting out electronic devices, but even that is much in the realm of imagination. Unlike Lani’s telekinesis, creativity won’t do much for Jared.

“I’d very much die without a shower,” he laughed. While Jared isn’t really the neat-OCD-ish type of guy, he does get a bit irritable and uneasy when he hasn’t washed for at least two or so days. “With this type of hair, showering is a necessity.” Jared likes keeping his hair thick and a bit longer than usual, not to mention dyed. Which means it needs a little more than the normal short ones. He claims it adds another dimension to him, another outlet through which he can express his creativity. Who says a guy has to limit himself with clothes and shoes anyway? He leaned in closer, whispering as if what he’ll say is a matter of utmost confidentiality. “And I can’t live with dirty underwear,” he chuckled.

Jared’s eyes widened in shock as he Lani grappled him and placed him under a headlock. Jeraiah used to tease him with such an action almost every day before, so a mixture of happiness and homesickness quickly ran through the young boy’s mind. “Tap out, tap out!” he laughed, playfully patting Lani’s arm as he can’t seem to get enough footing to successfully give Lani another poke. “Not my hair!” he added, making a pout in mock annoyance, “I spent a good ten minutes on that!” Jared could never imagine Lani turning ‘evil’. To him, Lani’s actually so nice and endearing, like a fuzzy big brother. “Of course you’ll keep me around. You can never get enough of this.” He put both his arms under his chin, pouted like there’s not tomorrow and batted his eyelids, trying to look disgustingly cute. “And besides, the greatest supervillains always have a comical lackey who gets blown up every time (yet magically survives to go and make another plan to destroy the hero). If they don’t have it, they’re not that great. I’d be willing to fill that up for you.”

“Are they really that bad? Maybe you should go to the school doctor then. I haven’t met him yet, but I do believe he’s got the power to heal people, like literally. Hopefully that’ll give relief, no matter how temporary. At least until Dr. Prideaux and whoever you’re trainer’s going to be can figure something out,” Jared nodded. He lightly rubbed Lani’s forehead, truly concerned about the older boy. “That reminds me, do you know who your trainer’s going to be yet?”

“I didn’t really have parents,” he laughed, congratulating himself inwardly when he thought of that smart retort (to him anyways). “But still, I wasn’t able to sneak out. How pathetic can I get right?” Jared has heard of his friends, back home and some of those who stay with their parents in Pilot Ridge, who sneak out for something as simple as a midnight snack to 7/11 or as big as a party, and each time he hears the tale of how they snuck out, Jared almost always becomes envious. He wasn’t really the adrenaline junkie nor was he a rebel, but the feeling of breaking the rules every now and then was really one heck of a dream for him.

“Nah, don’t mention it. I need some extra time to ensure I won’t go fat and flabby anyway,” answered Jared, “And Mr. Fjiki isn’t that bad, I think.” For all intents and purposes, Jared chooses to believe in the good and everyone. He trusts people easily, and is more than willing to give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Call him naïve or gullible, but positivity is really just what he is. “He’s a teacher, if anything else. That would be awfully mean if that was true.” He gave Lani another pat on the back as they assembled for the game. “You’re being too paranoid Lani. Relax. This isn’t some sort of military training camp,” he chuckled. Well, he hopes it isn’t. He’d be surprised if there was really a conspiracy going on.

“Lani, meet Tim and Harold. Tim’s a living statue while Harold is Big Bird’s descendant,” he laughed as he introduced the two guys to Lani as they stood beside them, “Tim and Harold, this is Lani. He’s a telekinetic. Where’s Mimi anyway?” Apparently for the games girls, will be separated from the boys. Fair enough, he thought. As Tim and Harold got back to their idle chat, Jared gave Lani another playful poke to get his attention. “I do hope I get on your team. That way you can protect me and we’d win,” he laughed. He’s certain powers won’t be allowed, but it’s not against the rules to tease another person, right?

[Lani Hunter]

Lani sometimes like the openness of telekinesis when it was working he could do some pretty smashing things. He smiled at Jared a little thinking back to what he had done through the first few days. He could probably do something spectacular but then it would probably also end in disaster. He thought about it for a moment it did limit him even if his power was unlimited. He had never wanted to think of himself as limited but as painful as it was it was true. He was limited. Severely. His fear to use his power limited him, his fear of hurting people limited him, his fear of the force he held. He could level a building if he wanted to he knew. It had almost happened before. If he had known what he was doing and had been doing it on purpose the whole building probably would have come down. Not only that but his power had knocked him on his tail more than once leaving him baffled and shaking his head with random objects in his lap.

Lani raised a brow at Jared and laughed, "Maybe if you didn't mess with it so much it would be better." He teased. He was sure that a lot of work went into Jared's hair. Unlike his which was cropped short and was lucky if it got a brush swept through it every now and again. He brushed a hand through his hair an absently recalled how he needed to take a shower sometime today. He laughed at Jared's next confession, "Me either." He replied the thought just made him shiver. It wasn't an untypical thing to be disgusted by. "There are a lot of luxuries that I would miss a lot. I'm not gonna lie I would definitely miss my computer and iPod." He shrugged. He was a technology junkie even if he was not computer savvy at all he still loved being on the internet.

Lani guffawed at the reaction he got from the boy. He felt relaxed for the first time since he had gotten here to just let it go and laugh like there was not a problem in the world. "A full ten minutes!" Lani made a mock gasping noise and gave Jared a look of teasing dismay. It was the least he could do for Jared insisting on tickling him at every chance. Lani just gave Jared a skeptical look but laughed none the less. "Oh yes I suppose you're right." He tapped his chin pretending to ponder it. "Yes I suppose you will be useful in some way for my quest for world conquest." He shook his head amused again at Jared's obsession with comic book scenarios. He recalled those situation but never really paid much mind. Lani shrugged to himself, Caroline would have said something similar only he would never suggest himself going evil to her. It would just make her sad.

Lani had never really thought about it before but when he was out in the world he played the the harsh and rebellious teen but when he was with Caroline it was like he was a whole different person. He was gentle and relaxed. He could laugh freely, more freely than he was letting on now and he could just talk without the fear of being judged. He nodded at Jared coming back to the conversation. "They really aren't but sometimes if I try to do something a lot of work at something my mind protests. Like when I practice moving things a lot it gets to me but other than that there is always just the dull throb of the power." He said unsure if Jared could even understand what he was describing. "I haven't been but then I never thought headaches called for a visit to the nurse. I mean I thought that was just the way it is and I should deal." He shook his head at the last question, "Not a clue. I've just been tossed around."

Lani blinked taken aback by the relaxed tone which Jared just said that he didn't really have parents. "Oh!" He exclaimed ashamed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." He wasn't aware that so many people at Hammel had family issues. So far everyone he had met seemed to be brooding over their family in one way or another. Lani laughed, "Not at all my sister started getting good at knowing when I would go out but thank goodness she never said anything. But then again my parents always knew but they didn't know how much I went out." He shrugged innocently giving him a 'I'm really a good kid' grin.

Lani smiled but didn't comment letting his icy glare pierce into Mr. Fjiki. He was sure something was up. But then again some nagging thought in the back of him mind insisted that it was his fault and that the teachers and staff had just analyzed his personality and decided the best way to get through to him was to challenge him and get him to push himself to the limit. He swore several times over in his head but showed no outward signs of displeasure. Instead he gave the teacher a 'bring it on' smirk. Lani nodded looking back at Jared as he spoke about him being paranoid. "Ye-yeah, you're right. No reason they would do that." He shrugged, "I'm not so sure..." he said cryptically in answer to the last statement. What if Hammel did have everyone fooled and they were really preparing them for an all out war with someone or something? Lani shook the thought away.

"Nice to meet you," Lani smiled reaching out to shake their hands. Lani could have throttled Jared right then and there when he just up and told them his power. Lani smiled in a strained way hoping they didn't notice his annoyance at the way their eyes widened. Lani laughed, "Sure no problem." Then when Jared poked him again he flinched against his will, he leaned down a little and whispered, "Keep that up and I'll make them hit you." He winked to show he was kidding and gave a short laugh. He looked up as Mr. Fjiki spoke, "Alright team captains, Jethro, Harold." The teacher said giving them a two finger gesture. "Rules are simple, don't get hit, last man standing that team wins and no powers." Lani narrowed his eyes and jutted out his chin as Mr. Fjiki looked right at him.

[Jared Park]

“I don’t mess around with my hair. I style it. You, on the other hand, are just jealous of it,” Jared teased, sticking his tongue out for emphasis. “Not my fault your hair’s so dull and boring.” While it is true that Jared thinks him having short hair would make him dull and boring, on Lani, it doesn’t seem like it. It actually fits him more. Call it intuition or something, but he strongly feels that Lani in a ponytail is just plain wrong. He tried to give Lani’s hair a ruffle, but being short and cropped, nothing much happened. “Unfair,” he blurted out, pouting like the big kid that he is. “Meh. Whatever. My luscious blond locks are amazing. And you’re just upset you can’t have it.” Yup. Strongest comeback ever. Nice on Jared. “I’m thinking of having it a bright purple or green color around next week or so. What do you think?” he asked, making twirling his hair around his fingers.

Jared laughed at Lani’s commentator-esque comment. Jasper being the Jasper that he is, Jared never experienced wrestling-like play when he was a kid. Jasper was much too ‘proper’ for roughhousing; fortunately Jeraiah was more than happy to give Jared a nice beating once in a while. “Formal protest, formal protest,” he joked, raising his hand and looking all around, as if trying to find the referee, “Lani Hunter is a mismatch for Jared Park. Lani Hunter is a mismatch for Jared Park.” He puffed his cheeks and gave Lani a chipmunk-like expression as an answer to his teasing stare. “Not fair. Why’d they place a tickle-machine-that-has-abs against a cute-and-harmless-kid like me?” He gave Lani two pokes, one on each side, as if trying to prove his point.

“Not I suppose, I will be useful in your conquest for world domination!” he joined enthusiastically. “I mean, of course people won’t like you barging at their door and imposing your will on them immediately, so you can use cuddly-me to brainwash them. You know, acclimatize them. So they won’t see you as a simple meanie.” As it seems, Jared’s not above being used for another’s benefit. Amazing. He then gave Lani a sinister stare, his fingers lightly tapping each other. “Then, when you’re not looking, I’ll rally up everyone and overthrow you. Bwahaha.” Lights out, cue spotlight from the chin and creepy background music. “Oh yes, I may be cute and cuddly, but I’m stealthy. Hiss.”

Jared simply gave Lani a sympathetic nod when he talked about how his powers acted up and gave him headaches whenever he tried to practice. He had no idea what to say really. That it will get better as time passes by? That pain is just a natural part of life? Giving advice about something you haven’t or will not ever experience is really something Jared is weak at. These are the times when he wishes he had telepathy or empathy just so he can know/feel then give his input, so that it’ll all be genuine and not just some textbook advice or a generalized comment. Fortunately Jared had enough experience when it comes to not having a personal trainer so at least there he can tell Lani something. “I know the feeling. I’m still waiting for mine too,” he shrugged. He wanted to hug Lani, but his situation isn’t really that depressing so hug-as-a-universal-anti-depressant is not yet needed at the moment.

He almost laughed out loud when Lani seemed so apologetic about his parents. He knew his statement would be taken the wrong way, so he feels so happy that his plan worked. “Gotcha!” he chuckled, poking Lani’s side once more (When will he ever stop?), “My parents aren’t really gone gone, they just worked overseas since I was 7. I still see them every holiday and whenever we do Skype. Though with my rowdy powers, I can see and hear them, they see nothing.” And that is perhaps one of Jared’s biggest woes when his powers manifested – it took the only way he could keep in touch with his parents. IM-ing and email is so not an option for the kid. “Lived with my siblings and grandparents ever since. Big brother was more than enough to keep me cooped up in my house.”

“Meanie,” he said when Lani told him he’d direct everything to Jared, even giving the older man a light nudge on the side, “You do that and I make you my shield the whole game.” And this does not mean Jared will drag Lani whenever he feels unsafe. This meant he’ll follow Lani wherever he goes and hopes he’d be safe too. When Mr. Fjiki called out the team captains, Jared couldn’t help but feel a sinking sensation in his stomach. The captains picking out people to play for them routine has never been a good thing for Jared. Not that he is always picked last (he’s not that clumsy nor that hated to experience that) but he always felt that the ones who were left felt some kind of discrimination. And when you’re a new kid, chances are you’ll be the one left alone. He hopes Lani won’t experience any of that. He’s had enough for one day already.

“Jared.” He perked up when he heard his name called. Apparently Jethro called him early on (they were around 20 in the class; the captains were on the fifth player still). He gave Tim and Harold a surprised look (complete with the bug-eyed stare) and was met with the same thing. He was totally expecting Harold to choose him. Seems like he should’ve chosen him sooner. “Guess I’ll have to go. Here’s hoping we be teammates.” He gave Lani one last poke before going with Jethro and his gang.


ooc:
Sorry it took so long Izy. RL drama plus moody muse is never a good combination. >.<
-Jam

[Lani Hunter]

((Its all good ))

Lani made a psh sound and shook his head, "I would never want hair all in my eyes." He laughed. He really like his hair cut. It made life easy as it never was messed up too badly. And Lani also had his other reasons. It was never in the way when he needed to do something and it was less likely something would be left behind. "Hey," he protested, "My hair is not dull and boring." He hesitated then added, "Not that it matters." He laughed at Jared's attempt to mess up his hair. It flattened back out pretty much to its original position. Lani raised a brow, "Green? Really?" He couldn't even fathom doing something like that. Not only was that not something Lani could see himself doing but that would make him identifiable. His average face and average hair kept him in the job a lot longer than those with fancy hair or distinguished features did. It would be hard to melt into the crowd if he had green hair.

Lani had roughhoused with his sister. Gently and not until after she was one hundred percent better and could actually fend him off a little. He had always been careful and gentle with her like she was glass then she started learning how to hit back and it would go on from there. But he had never had any other brothers in face he was the oldest of his cousins and the other boys he also had to be careful with because they were so little. He did fight though. He knew when he was hurting someone and when he wasn't. He had always been careful to keep play play and not turn it into a fight. He rolled back on his heels guffawing at Jared's announcement. "Maybe they figured you..." He was cut off as he failed to dodge from Jared's fingers. He really hated it when people tickled him. It made him self conscious but at the same time it forced him to be in a good mood because he couldn't help laughing. "Who say's you're harmless?" Lani asked wrapping his arms around his torso in defense.

Lani laughed again, he was laughing a lot today, perhaps it was really a good day after all. "That is if you can sneak past me." He said confidently. "I also don't know if you want me after you at that point. Remember I won't be as lovable when I'm evil." He laughed with an evil tint and winked. Lani shook his head it was such a far fetched thing to be talking about. He highly doubted that if he was going to do anything with his life it would be world domination. He would probably just stay living the easy and exciting way. His train of thought took him away as they stood pretending to listen to the teacher. "I'm sure that would be how it would happen. Or some freak accident and there would be utter chaos and anarchy." He said absently waving an arm around. Would it really matter? His mind pressed. In the end would it all really matter? Right now he was living day to day but what could he do. He was just a uncontrolled telekinetic with no future.

He frowned deeply as his head surged with pain. It happened every once and a while and all he could do was grit his teeth and wait for it to go away. Thankfully it only came in short waves and far between. He was lost in his own thoughts he lost all but the tail end of Jared's sentence. "Yeah, they aren't too on top of things right now are they?" He asked. He wasn't sure how long he could deal with going untrained before he got so sick of it he jumped off the roof. He startled himself with the thought. He never would have thought about something like that. Even in a joking way. He shook his head banishing it before he could nurse the idea. "Maybe there are just too many of us." He shrugged, with an entire school full of people it was more than possible. He blinked realizing how numb he was. Jared was the first person who he had fooled around with, without a care since he had come here. He had gone so numb it frightened him. He really needed to start being social.

Lani gaped unable to believe what just happened. He twisted away but his face did not lose the shocked look. "Oh," he uttered lamely. Lani nodded at the explanation, "Oh, well you can see them at least. It must be hard on them not to see you though." He reflected him mother had basically had vapors over the phone the last time he had called. He didn't know how parents could leave their kids like that. And how the kids dealt with it. "Why didn't they take you with them?" He asked curiously. He knew he was prying but for some reason these things just kept spilling out of his mouth. He laughed, "Apparently you never tried very hard unless your brother had you monitored." Lani used to have locks on his window the phone nine yards but nothing like that ever stopped him. That and the fact that he knew his parents exact schedule sleeping and waking.

Lani laughed, "We'll see about that." He grinned his competitive side coming out a little bit. He knew the team captain game. Everyone chose their friends and the people no one knew or liked were last. Lani smiled as Jared went to that Jethro character. He made a face as Jared poked him again. He really needed to learn how to not let people know he was ticklish. He crossed his arms waiting looking from each side as people trailed away. Finally someone said, "You, new kid." He rolled his eyes in response and bit out a "I have a name." He realized then that he had been chosen but not to the same team. He frowned over at Jared but trotted over to other team. It didn't take too long for the rest to have teams and for them to be set up on either side. Lani lined himself up near the back hoping to vanish as much as possible.

He braced himself as Mr. Fjiki placed the balls in the middle and blew his whistle. Instead of the group that ran forward Lani ran back from the fray waiting instead for a ball to come his way rather than the other way around. He ducked as a ball came at his head and soon there were things flying everywhere. His power tried to reach out. Half of him was trying to grab everything while the other was trying to keep it from doing so and not getting hit. He grabbed one and with a sly smile launched it in Jared's direction. Next thing he knew Jethro threw one at him. He reflexively stopped it with his power throwing his hands to catch it. He was shocked when it happened, he was still getting used to this whole deal. He 'caught' it and sent to flying back narrowly missing Jethro. He made a cocky shrug to the man.

[Jared Park]

“I could always hold my hair up with a headband and a bandana you know. Not to mention I can style it with gel, wax, clay or even hairspray to make it go away from my eyes.” And if Lani’s going to ask, yes, Jared has all those hair products and more. And he wonders why people assume he’s not straight (he’s just metrosexual, he says). “Ponytails do the work too. You can look very different with just a variation of the tools you use. Unlike that dull and boring hair of yours which has virtually no versatility. Oh yes, I’ll say it again, dull and boring.” He chuckled as he stuck his tongue out at Lani like the big and mature boy that he is. “It doesn’t matter? Seriously? Did it ever occur to you that no girl will approach you because you look so…baseline?” Not that Jared styles his hair to get girls, because he’s much too young to feel such urges and feelings (lately he’s been asking himself if he’s even hit puberty yet), but he figured since Lani’s an older guy, that may be enough to tease the hell out of him.

Jared simply nodded, amused at Lani’s surprise with his choice of hair color. “Yup. Blond is so last season,” he said, massaging his scalp a bit to show his hair. Being of Asian descent, Jared’s hair is naturally black. He began dyeing his hair when he turned 12, making it turn from a deep black to a dark chestnut shade. He’s slowly gone lighter since then, but because he was under close supervision by his grandparents (who despite being lenient, still had some ground rules), he couldn’t take his dyeing to extremes. Since he figured he’d be living in the dorms for quite some time, might as well take the chance to get his wanted color. “I’m thinking green with purple streaks. Or would it be better to have it purple with green streaks? Maybe a simple teal or fiery red will do actually. Hmm.”

“I am harmless, most of the time. It’s just a cover anyways. In reality, I’m a really sneaky ninja,” he laughed as he began making the weird ninja poses, even going as far as pouting and making kung fu sounds to make his act believable. “I can poke you without you even noticing my hands moving,” he said, his left hand heading straight towards Lani’s side. “Why do you think I’m asking you to teach me how to be sneaky anyways?” Really, Jared has a way of playing with stuff thrown at him as if everything is a joke. “Ever heard of the saying ‘the student will surpass the master’? Well I assure you that’ll happen,” he added, followed by an evil cackle. “And who told you that you were actually lovable?”

Lani’s statement only made the younger kid look back to the comic books he frequently read and denounce as mere fiction. What if the future where metas were normal and non-powered humans were considered freaks? When pyrokinetics and people with wings are as common policemen and firemen? Meta-humans aren’t a secret to the world now, but would a possible meta invasion be eminent? “I know. But isn’t the gene recessive or something?” he asked absentmindedly, trying to remember the things Dr. Campbell and his mom told him during his early days. “Does that mean that more and more metas are having children?” At this point, Jared’s questions are more of loud random thinking, as evidenced by his detached stare and blank expression. That’s what he usually does when he’s confused about something. “Never mind. I think I tend to think things a bit too much than expected,” he said, blushing a slight shade of pink.

The first few months, even years, of his ‘separation’ with his parents were indeed hard. Sure he lived with his siblings and grandparents, but they could never really replace the void his parents left no matter how hard they try. Jasper did his best and while he almost succeeded, there are still spots that only his mom and dad could ever fill. “It was. I remember crying for days during the first week when they were gone. Jasper was so scared that Dad and Mom won’t make it to his high school graduation. Good thing they pulled through,” he smiled as he narrated his not-so-usual family story, “There were more drama in between, especially when Jeraiah got her first period, but we all got through it, somehow.” Jeraiah entering puberty was really a surprise to everyone in their house. Good thing they had Grandma to take care of everything. During those times, he heard Jasper wish they were simply all boys so that things would be easier. Jared laughed as he saw Grandpa agree. “Dad works in the Middle East while Mom works in Switzerland. They don’t know who we should go with back then, hence being left with our grandparents. And as for my schooling, Mom says the situation in Kocher is a bit too dangerous for me. I don’t know why but she says Hammel would be the better one to enter in.” He laughed at Lani’s doubt about Jasper’s surveillance prowess. “You definitely know nothing about Jasper. If only he didn’t return negative in the blood tests, I would’ve been sure he’s a meta with super tracking capabilities.”

Jared pouted a bit as Lani went to the other side. He does doubt that Jethro would choose Lani, seeing as he sees him as more of a rival even from the start, but the kid still hoped. Now he actually envies Lani – he’s with Harold and Tim. Gym class is a whole lot better when you’re playing with friends (not that he isn’t in good terms with Jethro, it’s just that he prefers Lani, Tim and Harold over him). At the sound of the whistle, Jared, much like Lani, moved back and prepared for the onslaught rather than partake in the slaughter himself. True to his claim, Jared is as clumsy as hell. But then, in this case, it worked for him. His unintentional slips and spin actually make the balls narrowly miss the boy, earning a rather amused chuckle from Jared. The one he consciously tried to dodge is Lani’s throw, shouting “Hey! Not me! Lani you’re a meanieeeeee!” as he forced himself to split in order to make the ball miss. “How’s that, Mr. Ticklish!” he teased, going after the ball as it went out of bounds. Time to start his revenge, he thinks.

He was about to throw the ball at Lani when he saw Jethro throw one in the older man’s direction and narrowly catching it. Something felt odd about the whole thing, but since Jared had enough faith in the older kid (and he knows Lani’s much better at gym than he is), he just shrugged it off and prepared to throw his ball. He was so into perfecting his aim that he didn’t see the ball Lani had thrown until it was merely inches from his face, causing quite the sound when it hit his forehead full blast. “Ooops,” he said as he fell awkwardly down the cold gym floor.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani's eyes just got progressively wider as he listened to the long list of hair products that Jared was listing off. "Woah, woah! Do you really put all that in your hair?" He asked raising an eyebrow. That was astounding. Lani's only ever saw shampoo and a comb if it was lucky. Lani frowned and touched his hair sadly, "Its versatile..." He messed with it and it changed a fraction of an inch, "It can lean left, or right, and I can spike it?" He said the tail end of his statement coming up in a question as he pushed his hair back trying to make it spike a little bit. His eyes crossed up as he did so making him look even more ridiculous than he already did. "Oh well." He smoothed it over and ruffled it. Lani shrugged taken aback by the force at which Jared was talking about hair with him. "Uh..." was all he was able to utter. Lani's face grew red despite trying to keep his cool. He had never really had a girlfriend. He had been to the school dances and stuff but never had a steady girlfriend. He always did something wrong. Truth be told Lani had never had a relationship with anyone in a romantic sense. Apparently he was cold and distant. He wasn't even sure if he was straight for sure. He just never thought about romance but there was always that desire to be completely open with someone and love them.

He raised a brow at Jared not letting him get the upper hand since he already knew he was ticklish, "Well how many have you scored with your fancy hair?" He asked tugging on a lock of Jared's hair. Lani rolled his eyes, "Its not like I can change my hair color..." He pointed at Jared warningly, "And no I'm not going to dye it!" He cleared that up before Jared could get any ideas. Lani couldn't help but laugh at the crazy things Jared wanted to do. He was only what? 15? And he was already destroying his hair by dying it crazily and putting so much product in it that it would probably all be gone by the time he graduated while Lani would still have a thick head of hair long after. "I think red?" He ventured clearly unsure, "At least that's almost normal?" He shrugged letting on he was just making things up, if it were up to him he would just have kept his hair normal in the first place.

"Ninja, huh?" He asked clearly a skeptic. Lani flinched away batting a hand at Jared's incoming attack. He raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes in warning. Lani laughed and faked right then left then poked Jared straight in the stomach. "Have you ever heard of the master not teaching the student everything?" Lani blanked at the joke and it took in a few seconds to recover. He chuckled, "I am so lovable!" He protested making his eyes big and mimicking Jared's puppy eyes. "I'm like a puppy." He smiled slyly "You can't resist a face like this," he chuckled losing his composure and gaining his sly impish expression back. That was one thing Land always hated that. He had a plane face that blended in but then he also had a permanent impish expression that made him look like he was planning something. Scheming his mother called it.

Lani shrugged, "I haven't the slightest idea. But then it can't have anything to do with genes. I mean how could I be meta if it was a gene. Both my parents and my sister are normal. None of my grandparents had anything I don't have any aunts and my only uncle died young." He shrugged, "There's no ways it genes." He shook his head, "It must be like something else. Like luck or a disorder. Or maybe I was dropped into a vat of acid." He winked at Jared appealing to his comic book obsession. He shrugged, "I don't know that would make sense but that doesn't explain how people like me got powers or the first people with powers got them." Lani didn't try to understand that especially being new to the whole meta thing himself. He found himself with several more questions than answers.

Lani nodded he could imagine. He had once been curious about leaving and starting a new life as a thief with his employer like some other boys did but the thought of leaving his family for good terrified and saddened him greatly. Now he was older and here and he still missed them dearly, he couldn't even imagine what Jared went through. Lani nodded sadly. He was supremely happy that Caroline was still so young and wasn't even thinking about boys. At least not that he knew. He laughed a little bit, "He's probably lying to you. Now if he could keep me somewhere, especially now, I would say it was a super power." Not that Lani was boasting, well maybe a little. But if there was ever a lock he couldn't pick with a tool he had he could now do it with his mind if he concentrated hard enough.

Lani laughed he was actually getting into this. Against his better judgment he started to cheat. Helping himself dodge balls a little and helping himself catch them. He knew Mr. Fjiki was watching him but at the same time he didn't care. It wasn't obvious he was using his powers he was just diverting balls a little then dodging the rest of the way. He laughed at Jared as he shouted at him. Lani was watching Jared a little as things got a little out of hand. When his ball missed Jethro he unconsciously added a little power to it then he saw where it was headed. Lani shouted but it was too late. The sound of the rocketing ball hitting Jared's forehead echoed across the gym and it seemed like the whole world went silent. Lani's heart dropped into him feet when Jared fell. Oddly enough the rest of the balls that had been flying around plummeted, some with enough force that they popped on impact.

Mr. Fjiki blew the whistle and everyone stopped to see what was happening. Lani stood like a statue unable to bring himself to move. When people brushed past him he clicked back into the world and rushed over to Jared. "Oh my god! Jared are you ok?" He asked skidding to a stop next to him. Lani reached out to touch Jared wanting shake him awake but a hand closed hard on his shoulder. He looked up to see Mr. Fjiki. "I'm so sorry Jared. I never should have... I'm sorry." He ignored the teacher looking back down at Jared. He frowned as Mr. Fjiki started to speak, "Do you see what a danger you are now? What if that had been a bigger object. You could have killed him." Lani swallowed. Didn't they think he knew that? Why did they have to keep telling him that. He shook off the teachers hand and touched Jared's shoulder. "Jared? Are you ok?"

[Jared Park]

“Ya’ think?” he laughed as he saw the surprise in Lani’s wide eyes. Jared figures Lani doesn’t use such products as much as he did (not that his extremely short hair would ever need that much styling) but he’s happy the guy’s at least familiar with them. Makes him not feel weird or something. Seems being a guy with too much hair care products isn’t so bad after all. “Of course I don’t use them all at once. I don’t want to get bald prematurely you know.” Lucky for Jared, male pattern baldness doesn’t run in his family. If it did, he would ask his geneticist mom to try and figure out a cure already, as early as now. “Oh gosh, that is so versatile,” he laughed at the minute change induced by Lani’s hand to his hair. Astounding really. “Don’t feel bad, not everyone can carry a mangy mane like mine.”

Unfortunately for Lani, Jared caught his blush but then interpreted it as another whole different thing. He actually thought Lani is already in a relationship, or has a secret crush with someone, and is just too shy to admit it. After all, Lani’s two years older than him, he should’ve thought about these things already, right? “Whooo. Lani’s turning reeed,” he teased, not even the slightest bit picking up Lani’s true feelings. “You don’t have to be shyy, I can keep a secret,” he chuckled, giving the older boy another poke, “Apparently my theory about your baseline hair getting you nowhere is wrong. I stand my case.”

Jared laughed so hard when Lani asked about his scores. Truth be told, zero. Then again, he hasn’t really tried scoring yet. Either his hormones are faulty or he’s just destined to be asexual. “I’m sure it’s incredibly higher than yours,” he said, highly doubting that Lani will buy his joke. “That felt funny,” he giggled softly as Lani tugged his hair, “Aren’t my locks just lovely?”

“Red? It is. Which makes it boring.” To Jared, anything simple and plain is boring. If it doesn’t ‘shout’, it’s dull. Everything for the kid is loud, loud and loud. Much like his personality really. “Unless of course you choose a neon-ish shade of red. So you’d accompany me when I get my hair done maybe next month?” He knew Lani would most probably not join him, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.

“Hey! Poking’s my thing. Find your own annoying act,” said Jared as he clutched on his stomach. “Nope. Not ever,” he laughed, “And I don’t think that’ll ever come true really. Especially when the student’s as adorable as me. And the teacher’s as gullible as you.” Jared laughed so hard when Lani tried to act cute. Maybe it was because Lani didn’t seem like the cute-sy type, or he wasn’t used to seeing other people act cute, especially towards him, that he found Lani’s act both awkward yet incredibly hilarious all at the same time. “Stop it,” he said, giving him a light slap on the shoulder, “This is only the first time we’ve met and you’re already removing any sense of dignity you have. How sad.”

For all things geeky and nerdy, Jared was at least sane enough not to accept Lani’s joke about the vat of acid to be the truth. He definitely did not fall into a vat of acid and yet he became a meta himself, albeit a useless one. “Meh. I still believe in genes. Mutation and such. My grasp of science is weak, incredibly weak, but from what I can remember from my mom’s explanation, it’s all about mutation and such,” Jared nodded, for the first time in their whole conversation trying to be completely logical, “They’re not sure yet but a prevailing theory is about the recessive thing. How it works, I have no idea though.”

He simply laughed his comment about Jasper. His mother personally had all three of them tested (after Jared returned positive) and his two siblings were found to be normal. Jasper was just uncannily great when it comes to people sneaking out. “I think a showdown between you two would indeed be a sight to see,” he said, “Then again, you have the unfair advantage of being able to pick any lock from anywhere. Hah. Poor Jasper.”

-xxx-

The last thing Jared wanted to do is cause a scene. He’s sensing tension between Mr. Fjiki and Lani already, and he’d want to remove it as much as possible. That’s why he’s been trying to remove thoughts of teachers conspiring against Lani and showing the older kid how the staff are really here to help. But apparently his untimely fall did anything but forge a decent relationship between their instructor and Lani. “Wh-what happened?” he asked, no matter how cliché it was, as he slowly opened his eyes and forced himself to stand up. He instinctively rubbed his back and sides, his fall giving those parts quite the body ache. “Oh gosh,” he said, seeing the stern yet concerned look in Mr. Fjiki’s eyes and Lani’s apologetic gaze, “I’ve caused quite the scene again, am I right?”



ooc:
Another late post. So sorry Izy. Jared!muse became incredibly uncooperative lately. D;.I shall try to be better, I promise.
-Jammy
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[Lani Hunter]

He rolled his eyes in mock annoyance at Jared. Lani needed to remind himself that he was dealing with a younger kid and he had to learn a way to deal with someone like that. A little sister wasn't bad but with no brothers Lani had never known how to deal with people. He had several friends but from the state of his phone apparently they had not really been real friends. He really needed to call his family at some point, perhaps today. It had already been a rather foul day, not that it hadn't been brightened a little by this little hairball who was his gym partner now, but his headaches were worse and his temper thinner. He blinked coming back to the world when Jared teased him. He ran a hand through his hair absently. "Told you so." He said turning Jared's insult into a complement. Lani nodded, "I can tell you're the only one I met with hair like that. I never could deal with it. I would probably get so annoyed that I would just chop it short again." Hair was certainly the last thing on Lani's mind except when it started being a problem.

Lani shook his head flushing even more. He felt the heat burning in his cheeks and he tried to force himself to cool down. It worked his face faded of color as he washed himself over with a cold thought. "Shut it," he said with annoyance, "I.." He trailed off falling silent in order to keep himself from reducing himself to even less than he already was. "Yeah, way wrong." He shrugged, "And it is none of your business." Lani resisted breathing a sigh of relief he had certainly dodged a bullet there. He was terrified that people would find out about his indecision. But even more that even if he felt that pull toward someone he would miss his chance and be alone forever. He looked off at the ceiling nursing the terrifying thought, he was never really alone but there was no one outside of his family that really knew him completely inside and out. At Jared's claim Lani laugh softly and gave him a skeptical look, "Sure." He laughed and reached out to ruffled his hair, "Its more lovely than mine." He admitted.

Lani laughed and rolled his eyes Jared was really ridiculous but not in a way that made him unlikeable but rather he found Jared's little obsession with his hair very humorous. He smiled slyly and gave Jared a sidelong look, "You know I think I might and after I knock you out I'll have the air stylist cut it all off and dye it boring blond because you saw my hair and just had to have it." He emphasized it by flipping an imaginary lock of hair.

Lani chuckled and nodded, "True, how about this?" He ruffled Jared's hair knowing now that would be one of the only things he could do to annoy Jared back. Maybe that would deter him from trying to tickle Lani's sensitive sides. He raised a brow and shook his head, "Oh grasshopper you have much still to learn." He couldn't believe he was actually joking as much as he was, Lani in general was a lighthearted trickster but never had he felt as relaxed as this. Perhaps it was the knowing that anything Jared did he could take care of himself, and that he hadn't been completely honest or open, he wasn't ready for that with anyone not even his own parents. His heart was scarred and he was terrified of reopening wounds that had already healed. He felt there was no need to bring up bad memories when they were already locked away in his mind. Lani's eye twitched with annoyance breaking his 'cute' face. "Well gee thanks," Lani said sarcastically, "I have boring hair and now I have no dignity. Gotta love life." He smiled to show he was joking.

Lani was tired of talking about powers, he certainly still wasn't happy he had them and would much rather have lived out his life without ever even knowing this world existed. So when Jared continued to beg the question Lani's headache and temper surged at the same time, "Or maybe we're just all Brains in a Vat and dreaming all of this up and some of us have a more creative imagination than others." He shrugged and smiled to take the passion out of the words and give them a more who cares air to the phrase. Lani shook his head and moved onto the next topic, "I think it would be fun but far to easy." He winked and bit his tongue to keep from adding getting away from cops.

Lani hoped Jared was alright. When he awoke it seemed like Jared was completely out of it. When he asked what had happened Lani took it as a rhetorical question but Mr. Fjiki flew right into an explanation. "Mr. Hunter decided to forgo the rules and play with his powers and his power knocked the ball into you because he had no control." Lani bit his lip and stood up with Jared ready catch him should he fall again. He bit down hard on his tongue to keep from retorting back to the teacher. Lani just nodded at his next question not trusting himself to speak. He took a deep breath and swallowed his pride, "Are you ok Jared? I'm so sorry." He said keeping his voice in line but unable to keep the tone from shaking.

[Jared Park]

Despite knowing Lani a few minutes earlier (or has it been an hour already?), Jared felt incredibly at ease with the guy. He could feel that the older boy’s keeping a few things from him, things that may or may not be that serious, but still he could feel the sincerity he has every time he’ll fool with the younger kid (and besides, they’ve only been together for less than a day or so, it’s only natural he keep some stuff to himself still; one step at a time, as Jared would like to put it). Lani’s like a Jasper-Jeraiah combo: Jared feels a brotherly aura emanating from him, and yet he has this perky-funky side that makes him all the more lovable. He couldn’t help but smile; sure Lani is just a new student like him, but it’s nice to know that he has an older guy student to turn to in case something happens (there’s only much you can talk about with older girl pals).

“Oh course I’m the only one. It’s not like I can duplicate and all,” he laughed, “Though duplication isn’t really a bad power. Can you imagine four or five of me beside you right now? Just think of all the things I-we can do! You’ll never be able to dodge my pokes ever again. Muwahaha.” Jasper says Jared’s strive to be unique may have come from the fact that he’s been a shadow of his siblings ever since he was a kid. When Jared entered elementary and high school, his teachers first words to him were something along the lines of ‘Jared Park? You’re the younger brother of (Jasper/Jeraiah) right?’. While it isn’t all bad that he was known because of his siblings (even upperclassmen knew him back then, which meant his social circle transcended grade leve, and Jared loves friends), it was the comparison that he can’t take. And it’s not like anyone has directly compared him to his siblings, but it’s more of they’re a pair of overachievers in their respective fields that Jared felt inadequate. Ever since he was a kid, he had quite the tendency to develop such an inferiority complex to others. That’s why when they discovered he had a knack for dancing, the whole family went forth and sent him to classes to hone his skill; when they noticed he had an interest in avant-garde clothes, they gave him full support. It is this strive for individuality that Jared keeps on being the perky dresser that he is. He needs something that he can call ‘uniquely his’.

Unfortunately for Lani, his efforts to cool himself down was a waste. Jared caught his very red cheeks, even though they were only there for a short time. He snorted, giving Lani a light push, “Oooh. Lani so touchy when it comes to lovelife. If I’d known better, I’d say I’m the one who makes you blush.” Jared laughed so hard at the absurdity of his statement. Jared is in no way egotistic like a certain student we know to take such a thought seriously; he’s just teasing Lani more. While he could tell that he himself has a certain cuteness to him, he could vaguely see anyone falling for him. And Lani’s a guy - he doesn’t feel off to Jared anyway, not like the younger boy’s an expert on that matter (and that would be dangerous, wouldn’t it?). “I wish I could find someone too. Darn hormones just won’t work,” he chuckled absentmindedly.

“Hey! Stop it!” he said in mock annoyance. “Grasshopper has so much to learn because older grasshopper isn’t teaching him anything,” he protested, giving Lani a hair ruffle for a change. Jared was naturally playful, so he was so glad that Lani kept up with him, despite looking like the stern guy you always see leaning on the wall, chewing on a wheat stalk. “Aww, don’t feel so bad Lani. You have these amazing abs. Only they’re beside your extremely sensitive pressure points,” he chuckled, spreading his arms to poke the older boy from both sides simultaneously.

-xxx-

It seems he hasn’t suffered any memory loss then - he remembered everything until the point that he was hit by the ball, and it matches Mr. Fjiki’s account, though he would like to point out that he wasn’t really sure that Lani used his power; no way was Lani going to hit him that hard on purpose. If anything, he’d like to believe it was an accident. “Don’t worry Mr. Fjiki, I don’t think Lani did it on purpose,” he smiled, reaching out to Lani for support. His equilibrium is still a bit off, so he wrapped around the older guy’s shoulders, which is no easy task considering he’s a bit taller than him. “And I’m ok anyway. I think. My back’s a little sore but I’ll live.” He gave his back a light rub then added, “Though would it be too much to ask if I sit this one out for a bit?”

He gave Lani a rather tight squeeze and whispered, “I’m sorry. I should’ve learned how to dodge.” Lani’s been through so much already, seeing that he’s just new to the school and all, so Jared would’ve wanted gym class to be fun for him. But it seems all he’s done only made it worse.


ooc:
I'm so so so so sorry Izy. Like, super. >.<. I've been putting this thread off for a while because muse for it just won't work. I am really, really sorry. >.<
I'm so sorry that I've failed so many times already. I feel bad. D;.
-Jam