[hider=Ernest "Ernie" Mars - Aberration - Bungee] [color=00a99d][h3] β„• 𝕒 π•ž 𝕖 : [/h3][/color] [indent]Ernest Mars[/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] 𝔸 π•˜ 𝕖 : [/h3][/color] [indent]16 (March 26, 2004)[/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] ℍ 𝕖 π•š π•˜ 𝕙 π•₯ : [/h3][/color] [indent]5'9" (175cm)[/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] π•Ž 𝕖 π•š π•˜ 𝕙 π•₯ : [/h3][/color] [indent]130 lbs (59kg)[/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] 𝔸 𝕑 𝕑 𝕖 𝕒 𝕣 𝕒 π•Ÿ 𝕔 𝕖 : [/h3][/color] [indent] [hider=Former Appearance][img]http://i.imgur.com/xwggZ1Yh.png[/img] Credit to turtlequeen for the original image. [[url=http://turtlequeen.tumblr.com]x[/url]] Thanks to [@Baklava] for the edit![/hider] [hider=Current Appearance][url=http://dreamxxdream.tumblr.com/post/93868148377][img]http://33.media.tumblr.com/23e40f46b5d6cfb230b68d8c969a85c2/tumblr_n9u0z4prQd1snrf0so4_1280.jpg[/img][/url] Credit to dreamxxdream for the original image. [[url=http://dreamxxdream.tumblr.com]x[/url]][/hider] [s]Thick, dark hair that gets tied up into a tight ponytail when he studies. Washes his hair frequently so it usually looks quite silky.[/s] After an incident during the Factory mission, Ernie shaved his head into a buzzcut, over which he almost always wears a simple beanie. Facial features include sharp, hazel-brown eyes and usually a friendly grin on his face. Has quite a skinny frame. Ernie generally favours practical but colourful pieces. His [url=https://d3ieicw58ybon5.cloudfront.net/ex/1200.1200/shop/product/38ff1965effb414195ac4aed9269297e.jpg]combat outfit[/url] consists of a loose singlet, cargo pants, work boots, and whatever he needs in order to hold his equipment such as a shoulder holster, utility belt, and backpack. Outside of combat, he wears a black puffer [url=http://img.cdn.mountainwarehouse.com/rs/productimages/022/022003_BLA_FROST_DOWN_JACKET_AW15_1_l.jpg]jacket[/url] over this. In colder seasons his outfit is made up of sneakers, dark jeans, plain shirt and an eye-catchingly bright, bullky and expensive-looking [url=https://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/768970/768970_in_pp.jpg]parka[/url][url=https://cdn-images.farfetch-contents.com/10/47/93/58/10479358_2574142_480.jpg].[/url] Wanting to test the upper limits of USARILN's budgets, he orders the priciest and brightest items he can get, though a recent shopping trip with a classmate has started to incline his taste towards long [url=https://au.burberry.com/detachable-mink-collar-check-wool-tailored-coat-p40571341]coats[/url]. [hider=We don't talk about these.] [hider=Retconned][img]https://puu.sh/stXFH/0d5b57dec6.jpg[/img][/hider] [hider=Full body just cos (Retconned)][img]http://i.imgur.com/ORlUZIu.jpg[/img][/hider] [hider="W-wait, how'd you get this picture of me?!"][url=http://turtlequeen.tumblr.com/post/141240066931/curious][img]http://68.media.tumblr.com/1b25432fa2e16b87e393497f1b2ff120/tumblr_o47ta58a6b1qc30cvo1_1280.png[/img][/url] Credit to turtlequeen [[url=http://turtlequeen.tumblr.com]x[/url]][/hider] [/hider][/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] β„™ 𝕖 𝕣 𝕀 𝕠 π•Ÿ 𝕒 𝕝 π•š π•₯ π•ͺ : [/h3][/color] [indent]For the most part, Ernie is a polite and easy-going individual. His enthusiastic grin never leaves his face, whether he’s breezing through the USARILN hallways, chatting with his peers, or grinding a poor sap’s face into a wall. Always willing to crack a joke or do a quick favour for a pal, he is quite the affable buddy for those fortunate enough to get on his good side (not that it’s hard to do). He’s quick to laugh heartily and even quicker to lighten the mood, if he's not too caught up in his own shit. Though he is incredibly lacking in his studies, his general and practical knowledge is sufficient enough for him to take care of himself and others. He'll likely never understand calculus, but if you need to know five different ways of cleaning off bloodstains or how to cheat in Blackjack, then he's your guy. His hobby of choice is household chores, particularly vacuuming and floor scrubbing. It’s a habit that he failed to outgrow after his stint with the Senators. Most people view him as the resident clean freak, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Ernie would definitely prefer it if most things were spick and span. His mindset during his residence with the Senators could be boiled down to β€œDirty = Bad”, a principle that still compels him to this day. He doesn’t really have any other pastimes besides cleaning and frequenting the designated Violent Release Zone. Never really had the time to develop any new hobbies. Don’t let that discourage you from asking him to shoot some hoops with you or whatever. He’s always open to spending time with people his age. Ernie strives to meet his own needs as quickly and efficiently as possible, whether it be hunger, homework, or, unfortunately for others, his stigma. Ernie sates his Stigma quite a lot more frequently than most Aberrations, as his emotional weakness prevents him from being able to tolerate even the smallest hints of negative thoughts from his Stigma. His time in the Senators inspired a β€œconcentrated violence” sort of mindset in him. He generally chooses a few targets to lash out at constantly, allowing him to spend the rest of his day in general bliss. His desensitised approach to violence and bullying displays an unnerving apathy bordering on sadism. Being somewhat perceptive, his methods of torment also include verbal taunts and insults. Despite his jovial surface, it is an undeniable fact that Ernie is a bad person. His stunted empathy and utilitarian views on relationships beyond friendly acquaintances make him a cold-hearted person. When worse comes to worst, he will always value himself above others. This applies to both stigma sating and combat situations. When β€œforced” to perform destructive actions, he reassures himself by saying that it’s nothing personal to his victims. To an extent, that’s true. If it’s for his own wellbeing then he won’t give a damn about how anyone else feels. [/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] ℍ π•š 𝕀 π•₯ 𝕠 𝕣 π•ͺ : [/h3][/color] [indent]Though Ernie may spin many a yarn about his time in the Senators, in reality he wasn’t much more than a glorified errand boy. A small group found him rummaging through the dumpster behind a bar frequented by the Senators. Who knows what would have happened if they didn’t see his black X. He was nine years old at the time, still reeling from a destroyed home from one of the recent monster attacks. They took him in and let him sleep in one of the supply closets at a minor hideout, initially as a joke. When they saw his desperate need to please them and earn his residency, they declared him as the resident boy butler and occasional bouncer. It wasn't ideal but he had everything he needed; a roof over his head, an outlet for releasing his Stigma, and even a few people he could call friends. Well, maybe not that last part. He probably could have, if he didn’t get arrested during a night out with the boys. As soon as the officers saw the black X on his throat, he was shipped off to the closest USARILN facility. Life at USARILN West was definitely a few steps up from the supply closet but it lacked something crucial for Ernie. While it still provided opportunities to feed his Stigma, it was nowhere near as much as he did during his time before getting captured. It was the unruly behaviour following this realisation and his reluctance to participate fully in combat situations that landed his place on the USARILN East transfer. [/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] 𝕄 𝕒 π•˜ π•š 𝕔 : Bungee [/h3][/color] [indent]Ernie can fasten magical elastic "ropes" around targets and "leash" them to within a certain range of himself. They have to attack him to remove the effect, but the more damage he absorbs, the tighter the ropes get. Damage inflicted on Ernie while his magic is active is considerably lessened. [s]For example if someone tries stab him while his power is active, it will not leave anything more injurious than a large bruise.[/s] [u]A building could now collapse on him with negligible damage to Ernie.[/u] The maximum length of the rope at current is about [s]5[/s] [u]10[/u] metres. If a large enough force is put on the rope then it can break apart, though it can't be cut by conventional methods. The rope has a lifespan of [s]10[/s] [u]20[/u] minutes and a cooldown time of 3 minutes between each use. He is able to toggle between his standard rope and an 'auto-latch' ability with which he can automatically manifest a tight noose around any target in his range. For human targets the noose wraps around their necks, while for larger, non-human targets, it simply appears around an appendage. If he latches an inanimate object, the rope will manifest in a manner that grips the object properly. However, he is unable to move from his spot while his rope is on 'latch' mode. On the other hand, almost nothing can move him. Ernie can now telekinetically control his rope. It must remain within 10 metres of him to remain active. The most it can comfortably lift is the approximate weight of a sedan. [hider=Ernie writes notes on his fancy new rope cos it's neat and will help him remember things good.] [quote][u][b]ROPE NOTES[/b][/u] Writing words = Yes but messy Drawing pictures = Yes but messy Coloring inside the lines = No Choping food = Yes Diceing unions = YES (no more goggles!) Vegetable carving = No Trimming meat = Don't know if rope is clean for that Vaccuming = Yes Scrubbing = Yes Ironing = Yes but dangeruos Flying = Yes Flying fast = Only a bit faster than GZ guy running from me with a gun Flying with people = Not yet - awkward and squirmy Throwing things = Yes but need to grab propperly and practise accurasy Throwing people = Yes Throwing me = YES. Faster than flying but make me sick. NEED PRACTISE Lifting car - yucky GZ sedan = Yes Throwing car = No Lifting bigger car = No Hurt people = Yes Strangle people = Yes Smash people = Yes Shoot gun = Yes and funny Throw knifes = Yes but not accurate Cut off arms = Yes Cut off head = Yes Punch through chest = Yes but gross Very good for the slow stuff End Note = [i][u][b]NEED MORE PRACTISE!!![/b][/u][/i][/quote][/hider] As a secondary ability, Ernie can β€œset" a glowing, golden sigil on a relatively flat surface. He can place his sigil on any surface as long as it is flat and has the necessary surface area for the circular rune (which has approximately the radius of a standard mack truck tire). As of now, Ernie can bind only one target at a time for 5 minutes with the secondary ability. He has a cooldown time of 3 minutes after each sigil. He needs to be within a 10 metre radius of the active sigils for them to continue binding their targets. He cannot use the sigil while the rope is active and like with the rope, with enough force the target can break free. While his powers are active, Ernie himself is covered in a golden glow. Amber flecks colour his eyes. [hider=Upgrade 1] Ernie's rope now has a length of 10 metres. He is able to toggle between his standard rope and a new 'auto-latch' ability with which he can automatically manifest a tight noose around any target in his range. For human targets the noose wraps around their necks, while for larger, non-human targets, it simply appears around an appendage. If he latches an inanimate object, the rope will manifest in a manner that grips the object properly. However, he is unable to move from his spot while his rope is on 'latch' mode. On the other hand, almost nothing can move him. Durability while rope is active has increased to the point where he would be mostly unfazed by a building collapsing on him. Rope now lasts 20 minutes. Cooldown remains the same. When his rope and durability are active, Ernie emits a subtle, golden glow from his body. [/hider] [hider=Upgrade 2] Ernie no longer requires skin contact with his rope for his power to remain active. Can now telekinetically control his rope in a 10m radius. Amber flecks colour his eyes when his ability is in use. [/hider] [/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] 𝔻 𝕣 𝕖 𝕒 π•ž : [/h3][/color] [indent][img]https://68.media.tumblr.com/9e0e3819d81ca5d426428b5ce9192bbb/tumblr_ntf43cjqOn1ud4xnno1_540.gif[/img] There was a field, eternally sunny and bright. Friends and family, people he knew and people he was yet to meet were here to picnic with him. They played games and sang songs while he smiled and ate on the checkered blue blanket. Sometimes he’d get up and join them. But he would always return to the blanket. He’d eat his fill then fall asleep with the gentle sunlight warming his content face. Then he would wake and eat and play again. He would never tire of it. Some of his companions would run into the forest. It was dark, unknown territory. They’d disappear for hours but Ernest never worried. He knew that no matter how long they went away, they would always return, to the blanket. To him. They would never leave him.[/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] β„• π•š π•˜ 𝕙 π•₯ π•ž 𝕒 𝕣 𝕖 : [/h3][/color] [indent]He was in a house. Solid, concrete walls. Monochromatic. Modern but stifling. He was sitting with his nuclear family on the living room couch, watching the television as canned laughter filled the room. There was a fire coming from somewhere in the house. Ernie kept watching the TV, laughing along to the one-liners. He seemed completely unaware of the dangerous situation consuming the building. The heat was getting stronger. It was becoming almost unbearable. One of the faceless family members on the couch shifted anxiously, side-eyeing the flames that were starting to engulf the wall closest to the couch. Another member tried to scramble to her feet, but was immediately slammed back down by an invisible force. Ernie watched on, oblivious to the anxiety of the gathering on his couch. He didn’t need to care. They would never leave him. Ever.[/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] 𝔸 𝕨 𝕒 π•œ 𝕖 π•Ÿ π•š π•Ÿ π•˜ : [/h3][/color] [indent]Aberration[/indent] [indent][color=00a99d] π•Š π•₯ π•š π•˜ π•ž 𝕒 : [/color][/indent] [indent][indent]The fear of being abandoned and alone without a safe haven overcomes him. He relives his memories of being lost out on the streets after his family was crushed, the desperation and starvation he felt during that fearful period. The belief that he will lose everything he knows consumes him. His anxiety is immune to all forms of rational thought or reminders of whatever his current situation may be. When his Stigma goes unsated for too long Ernie curls up into himself and desperately latches onto anyone he can find, as well as anything he deems β€œhomely” (e.g. blankets, clothing, etc.). He becomes a nervous, crying wreck.[/indent][/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] 𝔸 𝕣 π•ž 𝕒 π•ž 𝕖 π•Ÿ π•₯ 𝕀 : [/h3][/color] [indent]xxx[/indent] [indent]You have none, yet. You will get some as the story progresses. Keep track of them here. Some of them might be really important or something, I don't know.[/indent] [color=00a99d][h3] 𝕋 𝕙 𝕖 π•ž 𝕖 π•Š 𝕠 π•Ÿ π•˜ 𝕀 : [/h3][/color] [indent][url=https://youtu.be/vXTMgFsDfJU]"Ernest Mars! But everyone calls me Ernie."[/url] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNR8sJy2oM8]"Pretending to be a gangster is a lot more fun than actually being one... though there were some pretty nice moments."[/url] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrVfrO3y78][color 2e2c2c]"Yeah...nice moments." (Wishing you were here.)[/color][/url] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0hvzjyuZ5k]"It just... man, it just never gets easier, does it?"[/url] [url=https://youtu.be/kvBP-6Ukc-I]"I gotta be strong." (Battle Theme)[/url] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6kc8utR5lg][color 2e2c2c]"I'm...untouchable." (Battle Theme: Aureus)[/color][/url] [url=https://open.spotify.com/user/banjoanjo/playlist/6IV4ul2CDcl1JFco2aepLA]Ernie Playlist[/url][/indent] [/hider] [hider=Unspoken Thoughts, Careless Hopes] [color 2e2c2d]Ernie leaned back on his hands, his legs kicking freely off the top of the building.[/color] [h3][color=a2d9ce]β„‚π•’π•π•π•’π•Ÿ: This Feels Weird.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Strong like. Strong pity. Forgotten suspicion. [color=00a99d]"I don't know what I'm doing. I never thought I'd make friends like her and Brent, care for them like that. It makes me happy as hell." "..." "If she knew, would she forgive me like she did Marcus? Or was that only because it was Marcus? I can't risk it. She can't know anything." "..." "Why does she keep crying in front of me? Why does she keep getting herself into trouble with her feelings? I'll do what I can but it's starting to be a worrying pattern. Am I doing something wrong? I should just keep helping her carry the weight of her worries. I should, for my friend. Even if it breaks my back. I can do this too, Cal. Better than you, for you. I've been doing it for myself, longer than you know." "..." "Jesus. That smile. I can't get it out of my head. Such a stupid, hilarious moment."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Inscrutable Friend - Catalyst: Week after Zhang's Estate] Status: Like. Strong suspicion, wariness. Strong distrust. [color=00a99d]"I feel bad for her. Not because of that Marcus crap but because she's trusted me with so much. I don't trust myself not to use it against her someday. She's so stupidly vulnerable. I hate it." "..." "But she's a liar. A fucking liar. How am I supposed to stand around and smile like I don't know what she did?" "..." "I'm so glad she's my friend though. I'm glad she likes me. I like her too. I don't want that to change. That means she can't know what I know." "..." "I wish she'd feel better already. I could always use another friend around here."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=B0C4DE]π”Ήπ•£π•–π•Ÿπ•₯: I Can Still Trust Him.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Strong like. Lessened trust. Admiration. Wariness. [color=00a99d]"I shouldn't have to worry about him. He and Siena supposed to be the smart ones, smarter than me anyway. Our Proteus, the Strategist of D.C. He told me I don't need to worry anymore. Yet..." "..." "Guess it's just us now. 'Team Sesame Street' is a bit of a mouthful..."[/color][/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Steadfast Companion - Catalyst: Island Amigo Battle] Status: Strong like. Trust. Strong admiration. Wariness. [color=00a99d]"My workout partner. My fellow member of Team SAP. Would it be childish to call him my best friend too? Seriously, I'm glad to have him here with me. This is the sort of brohood I always envied at Reno." "..." "I can't help but feel that something's weird with him, like when he recounted that story of his. Has it always been there, or have I just given him too much benefit of the doubt? Whatever, I've seen weirder." "..." "I'm glad I told someone about it but there's this paranoia that's been creeping around me ever since that day. We don't talk about it. Heh. I don't know if I'm anxious or relieved at that. Maybe it was a mistake after all..."[/color][/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Steadfast Companion - Catalyst: Island Kitchen Talk] Status: Strong like. Strong admiration. [color=00a99d]"We get along well. He doesn't mind my weirdness. Probably because we don't know each other at all. Then again, he's kinda weird too." "..." "I know I can count on him. He's smart and reliable and he's cool with what I am. I want to be more like him. He's helping with that. I can't thank him enough."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=33ec06]𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕀: He Deserved It.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Strong dislike. Strong distrust. Strong regret. [color=00a99d]"It takes a real coward to fully appreciate the shameless, selfish bullshit he pulled. How could he have seen their faces and not--urgh. I, of all people, can't talk. Black kettles and all that. I can't believe I held out hope for this guy even after D.C. That's what I get for trying to see the good in this class." "..." "It wasn't my place to tell Siena if she wasn't looking to know. I'll admit to that and only that." "..." "He was meant to be a friend before a shitty teammate. I forgot that. I made my choice." "..." "He won't be able to stop me if it's needed. Won't make himself. Even I'm not that weak."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Conditional Camaraderie - Catalyst: Cafeteria Revelation] Status: Like. Distrust. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"Time Scar, the face of the subnatural movement. Needed a fucking bullet to the brain to take down one beefy Reg but beat the crap out of a dragon shifter with no problem. He's turning out to be more like me than I thought, putting that guy down without so much as a second thought. It scares me more than I'd like to admit, though I don't know know if it's for his sake or mine." "..." "I keep trying to wrap my head around it. We keep doing so many things to destroy what we have between us, yet he's still one of my tightest bros. We joke, we banter, we have each others' backs. Luck has always worked weirdly for me. Maybe this is just another aspect of that." "..." "That callousness he showed seriously gets me. Can't help but think we're gonna do something awful to each other someday, with both of us completely believing that it was the right thing to do. Best case scenario, we just have that Magneto/Xavier rivalry shit where we hate each other's attitudes but still meet up to play Chess or some shit. I doubt we'll get anything as pleasant as that, considering our line of work. Plus, I'm terrible at board games."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Dreams of Something Better - Catalyst: Island Confrontation] Status: Like. Afraid of disappointing him. [color=00a99d]"I wish it was someone else that found out that day. I don't know why he still tolerates me but I'm glad he does. He was right. But it didn't work. He was wrong. Does he even still like me? I keep messing up in front of him." "..." "I wish I'd chosen the right path like he did. I wish I was carefree and normal like him."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=8A3DFF]π”Όπ•žπ•žπ•’: Why The Fuck Would You Do This?[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Strong dislike. Disgust. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"How fucking pathetic do you have to be to have your minion shake someone up and 'blackmail' them into being your friend? Using knowledge she would have already known, no less. The only thing stopping me from ruining that whore is Cal. All I'd have to do is have a chat with Marcus. But Cal wants to protect Emma, as if the bitch isn't the one behind all this. More importantly, she wouldn't want me to act so horribly. So Emma gets off scot free for now..." "..." "She never should have told me about that dream. Hazel and Zoe and the others can sleep however the fuck they want. Why am I the only one that has to be afraid of the night? Should have kept her skank mouth shut. She and Marcus fucking deserve each other." "..." "We're friendly for now. Cal and her are friendly for now. It won't last. Something's gonna snap and it's gonna happen real soon."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Reluctant Understanding - Catalyst: Week after Zhang's Estate] Status: Forced neutrality. Muted sympathy. Strong distrust. Wariness. [color=00a99d]"It's convenient, having someone know what I really am without the fear of having my throat ripped out for it. Sometimes playing nice gets too tiring for me to do properly. At least I'll have her to fall back on." "..." "I'm fine with her not liking me. She's got all the reason in the world for that. I don't hate her, at least. She's an Aberration. She's like me." "..." "I don't think we're friends. I need to watch myself too often, be on guard whenever we talk. At least this way there's no way my Stigma could let loose around her. But man, it makes for really uncomfortable company. I don't think anyone could have a friendship like that. Plus, she didn't seem very impressed with my jokes at the end of that bar night. Wouldn't have taken her for such a prude, considering that story she told about her friend." "..." "She said she'd let me die. I know enough to take that threat seriously, even if both me and Marcus thinks her capabilities are low. Sometimes I can still feel the anger from that day lingering in my chest. I don't hate it. It will keep me alive."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=ff57ff]π•Šπ•šπ•–π•Ÿπ•’: I Get Worried.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Like. Wariness. Concern. [color=00a99d]"She makes mistakes. Big ones, far too big. At D.C. On the island. I like her, I think she's a decent person. But we're gonna be facing more and more enemies. Our luck will run out soon. This kind of retardedness can't continue or we'll be facing losses that are a lot bigger than two classmates and a bunch of staff." "..." "Unrelated, but holy [i]shit[/i]. We need to go shopping more often."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Superficial Company - Catalyst: Shopping Trip] Status: Like. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"She's fun and nice to hang around! Thank god. I have enough enemies in this class." "..." "Yet another murderer involved in the incident at D.C. Like Angelique, she killed dozens but unlike Angelique, I'm pretty sure she won't do anything like that again. I should know by now that having expectations for these subs is a stupid thing to do but Brent trusts her so I guess I gotta too..." "..." "It was an accident. I know she didn't mean it. Doesn't change what happened though."[/color][/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Uneasy Company - Catalyst: Island Getaway] Status: Like. [color=00a99d]"She's rich but not snooty. Patient. Kind. Likes to play piano for others apparently. I haven't found any reason to hate or be wary of her. I don't want to end that last statement with a 'yet'." "..." "I like her dog too."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [color=cyan][h3]π•Šπ•’π•Ÿπ••π•–π•£: I Will Defend Myself.[/h3][/color] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Strong Dislike. Strong Irritation. Fear. [color=00a99d]"I can't believe I did that. I can't believe [i]he[/i] did that! What an absolute fuckwit, honestly." "..." "There's more to this new ability. More to me than I knew there was, something valuable beyond that ocean of fear. I suppose he was the one that made me realise it. Not that he'll ever know." "..." "Good thing he's bumming Christmas. Would have been a bitch to try and explain those injuries away."[/color][/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Unspoken Solidarity - Catalyst: Bathroom Attack] Status: Acceptance. Irritation. Surprising trust. [color=00a99d]"Actions speak a lot louder than words for this guy. First plot twist, he's not as homocidal as I had originally thought. I don't know how he held back when it came to that Hazel fight but he did. It'd be stupid of me to keep antagonising him over what he said over the Christmas shit when he's apparently already let it go. Second, he's actually kind of a dumbass. Third, he likes my drinks the most out of the class. We actually sorta get along now? Like, we can talk like normal teens over someone else's liquor. Not sure if that's gonna hold. He's weird when it comes to Stigma and violence shit." "..." "He knows what I did at Wisford. He volunteered to keep the blood off my hands next time. I don't know what to feel about that." "..." "Whatever. I'll appreciate whatever this is while it lasts."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Justified Hatred - Catalyst: D.C. Battle and Island Bar Talk] Status: Hatred. Overwhelming fear. [color=00a99d]"He can kill me whenever he wants. I wish he'd get it over and done with. Or at least stop taunting me with his presence. I don't want to be able to foresee my death so clearly. I hate it. I hate him. He terrifies me. An outright monster is so much less frightening than a monster biding its time below the calm surface. I'd know that better than anyone." "..." "He was supposed to stop me. I don't know what's keeping him from just going ahead and ending me. That's what scares me the most. There's no reason that I'm still here."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=palevioletred]℀𝕠𝕖: It's Unfortunate, Really.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Irritation. Amusement. Wariness. Respect. [color=00a99d]"She has a good head on her shoulders except for when she doesn't, I guess. That Kusari thing wasn't a fun time for anyone but it was hard to feel bad for someone that tenderised those Regs like cheap steaks. Is that why Zoe chose her?" "..." "She knows where to put her brainpower. Knows that we're in more danger than ever. I wonder how she'd react to my time in Reno, if it would even compare to the shit she's done herself. She kept to her word for the David thing. If I asked her to stay quiet about [i]this[/i]..."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Thick-skulled Warrior - Catalyst: Week after Zhang's Estate] Status: Irritation. Amusement. Strong wariness. Begrudging respect. [color=00a99d]"Stubborn. Argumentative. Superpowered. Probably dumb as rocks. A really volatile combination; makes for a shitty teammate but I'll be damned if it isn't fun at parties. If we live long enough for her 21st, that 'smooth-talk' of hers is definitely going on the highlight reel. We're not really on good terms though. I probably wouldn't get invited." "..." "She's a fighter. Man, the things I would give to have even half the guts she's got. At least she knows what needs to be fixed. She seems to be the kind to run headfirst at a wall until she breaks through. With everything she's got, I think she'll make it. As long as we stay out of each others' way and as long as she stops with all the friendly fire, I think we'll be better with her on our side."[/color][/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Foreseen Cruelty - Catalyst: D.C. Talk and Island Minibar Gathering] Status: Dislike. Strong irritation. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"She reeks of something familiar. Reminds me of Reno, all the most awful parts of it. Her power is strong, perfect for an Aberration. Ruthless, but somehow respectable. I couldn't believe it when I heard." "..." "I thought that I would be safe with her around. That I would have nothing to be afraid of. She's uncaring, like me, but far more than what I could ever achieve. That's horrifying." "..." "She tried to escape. She almost made it. So much trouble caused, all because of her. Disgusting." "..." "I should have seen it coming. Me, more than anyone else here. I won't let my guard down again."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=a187be]π”Έπ•π•π•šπ•€π• π•Ÿ: It's Hard To Feel Bad For You.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Disdain. Pity. [color=00a99d]"I know how tough moving on from a death can be. Really sucks to be her right now. Hopefully she'll move on quickly. Being emotional gets you killed on the battlefield." "..." "Yeah, we all heard her dumbass plan. Better not try that shit again."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Undeserved Forgiveness - Catalyst: Building B Talk] Status: Mild dislike. Disdain. Instinctual pity. [color=00a99d]"At least she knows she's a fucking idiot. I wish I could say that I hope things work out for her but I'm not sure I care that much, especially since it involves the Banshee." "..." "It doesn't seem easy, living with that world view. How the hell does she do it?"[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Undeserved Forgiveness - Catalyst: Island Minibar Talk] Status: Like. Negligible wariness. [color=00a99d]"I shouldn't have been so fine with stabbing someone in the face. That's not normal. But she told me that we were cool despite it. I'm glad. I kind of wish someone would tell me I was wrong though." "..." "A fellow subnatural outside the law. Makes me kinda happy. Her experiences were a lot different from mine though." "..." "Her banter is top notch. I like talking with her. A bit strange though, like when she talks about that red-eyed man."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=red]β„‚π•™π•£π•šπ•€: I Will Make Him Regret.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Strong dislike. Strong distrust. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"Albino prick better not catch me on a bad day. He’s not the only one who knows his way around a fire here. The dorms at East are so easy to break in to.”[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=9e0039]π”Έπ•Ÿπ•˜Γ©π•π•šπ•’π•¦π•–: I Should Have Spoken Better.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Regret. Hurt. Hate. [color=00a99d]"...It's too late to do anything now."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Rising Redeemer - Catalyst: Island Amigo Battle] Status: Overwhelming Detestation. Strong Distrust. Overwhelming Wariness. Involuntary Regret. [color=00a99d]"You'd think one massacre would be enough for a lifetime but what can I say? Angelique Lachance always goes above and beyond. I'm gonna send a bullet through her teeth if that ever happens again." "..." "I wonder how much she believed out of everything she said. I know now she was trying to protect Siena and Lily. The fact that she thinks murderers deserve protection, the fact that she lied to me? The fact that she's willing to do it again? I will never, ever forgive her." "..." "Despite everything, I still wish that talk had gone better. Sucks to lose a friend to that kind of evil. I don't believe I was in the wrong though."[/color][/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Rising Redeemer - Catalyst: D.C. Massacre and Island Gym Confrontation] Status: Like. Idolisation. Negligible pity. [color=00a99d]"I still think she's the coolest. It's amazing how a rockstar can move you even without an instrument. That one perfect moment...I don't think I had ever felt that way about anything before. But it's dangerous to forget myself like that. I can't let myself get swayed so easily just because my idol is in front of me." "..." "Despite everything, I can't help but get excited. I want to hang out with her more. She's the coolest." "..." "A bit naive, but she won't be finding that out any time soon. I just hope that mindset won't bite her in the ass should the time come."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [color=fff79a][h3]ℍ𝕒𝕫𝕖𝕝: I'm Staying Far Away.[/h3][/color] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Strong distrust. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"...I don't even know, man. Cal wouldn't lie to me about something like that. Hopefully that dream monster visits her soon so we can put all this bullshit behind us."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Bipolar Time Bomb - Catalyst: Waffle House Talk] Status: Hatred. Strong distrust. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"I don't know how Emma can see her as a child. Children don't toy with their kills like that." "..." "Hurt one of my friends again and I'm gonna unload a fucking clip in her."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Wary Peace - Catalyst: D.C. Battle] Status: Concern. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"Emma said she's like a child and I have to agree. Kind of a nuisance but I feel like I need to look out for her." "..." "That's not an excuse for almost killing three classmates though. I'm staying far from her in the next battle." "..." "Traitors get the kill order. If it comes to that, I don't think I'll hesitate. But I know I'd feel bad about it later."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=8493ca]β„‚π•™π•£π•šπ•€π•₯π•žπ•’π•€: I'm Garbage.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Mild dislike. Overwhelming shame. Unacknowledged discomfort. [color=00a99d]"I shouldn't be mad at him for ratting me out. He didn't deserve any of it. Am I mad? Hah, guess it depends what Stigma mood I'm in. I wish I could fix things. I don't know if I'm saying that because I'm sorry or because I'm scared. I hope it's the first one. I don't think we'll ever get along, not after what I did. I don't think I want his forgiveness anyway. Wouldn't help things in the long run and it's not like I've done anything to earn it. We all saw what happened at Wisford." "..." "Don't think I didn't catch him in that girly, frilly shit at the beach party. Hm. Wouldn't have taken the kid as the joking type."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=662d91]π•‚π•¦π•€π•’π•£π•š: I Don't Give A Shit.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Strong dislike. Strong disgust. Strong wariness. [color=00a99d]"She's a bitch, honestly. A smart, tough bitch, but still a bitch." "..." "I showed too much of myself in that talk of ours. Two mistakes that day. I can't let that happen again. And I can't let her mess with what I still have." "..." "I saw her at the Evac Point in D.C., covered in blood. Guess she joined in the slaughter too. Makes sense. After that mess in the Flags game I wouldn't have expected her to be anything less than a psychotic butcher like the rest of them." "..." "In the end, Kusari was a bitch, karma was a bitch but Zoe was an even bigger bitch than the two of them combined. Guess it's a good thing she wasn't completely mushed up. Cal looked really upset."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=lightcoral]π•ƒπ•šπ•π•π•šπ•’π•Ÿπ•’: I Should Have Expected This.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Disgust. Strong distrust. Overwhelming wariness. [color=00a99d]"First meeting, she melts off Kusari's hand. Second meeting, she admits to melting off her hand when it totally wasn't necessary. Third meeting, she seems to be getting better and finds a solution to her Stigma issue. Fourth meeting, she admits to outright serial murder and doesn't even tell me why she did it. And [i]I'm[/i] the asshole for not trusting her?! Fuck that. She can stay in that little 'Girls, Gals and Serial Killing Pals' club she has with Angel. I'm not going anywhere near those fuckers." "..." "Why do I keep expecting better of people? I haven't always been that stupid, have I?" "..." "If I had told people about her amplification, could that whole nightmare have been avoided? I don't want to think about it."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Unfamiliar Strength - Catalyst: Island Kitchen Confrontation] Status: Neutral. Wariness. Pity. [color=00a99d]"A nice girl. A poor amnesiac. A strong healer. She saved Cal so I'm grateful. She took on those bloody hands without even a second thought." "..." "I don't know if she knows what she's dealing with when it comes to the Stigma. At least she told me outright that she's unstable. Honesty helps. My 'advice' might come back to haunt me though. For everyone's sake, I'm praying it doesn't." "..." "That unhesitating strength comes the fact that she has nothing left to lose. Interesting. I've seen it before. I don't think want something like that. I don't think I could have that sort of freedom anyway."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=f26522]π”Ύπ•£π•–π•˜π• π•£π•ͺ: Sorry About That.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Like. Disappointment. [color=00a99d]"Guy seems chill from the few times we’ve spoken. Actually took down a monster with Brent, which is a lot more than I can say for myself." "..." "It was unavoidable. He shouldn't have been a casualty but [i]they[/i] should have known when to cut their losses. It was an idiotic move from the get-go."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=FFCCFF]β„π•’π•šπ•Ÿ: ...Hah.[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: Shame. [color=00a99d]" 'There is no catharsis; my punishment continues to elude me, and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself.' Heh. Something like that, right?" "..." "God, I'm a piece of shit."[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Unrelenting Regret - Catalyst: Too much.] Status: Shame. Strong discomfort. [color=00a99d]"Yet another shitty thing I got away with. No one knows what happened. I don't know if they care either. Why would they? There's so much other stuff to deal with." "..." "I won't let myself forget. I don't deserve that peace."[/color][/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Unrelenting Regret - Catalyst: So much.] Status: Overwhelming shame. [color=00a99d]"Not even someone's death could stop me from being a total piece of shit. He didn't deserve it. I keep telling myself that it wasn't my fault. I think I'm starting to believe it now. More and more excuses. I'm the worst." "..." "I'm so sorry."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [h3][color=00a99d]π”Όπ•£π•Ÿπ•–π•€π•₯: What The Actual Fuck Am I Doing?[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Current] Status: ... [color=00a99d]"I don't know what I'm doing here. Is it better to die unafraid or live in constant fear? Not that I'll ever have the guts for the first one." "..." " 'Change the world'? 'Be better'? That's fucking laughable, coming from me. All I'm good at is looking for the worst in people and getting mad when I find exactly what I should have expected. Shouldn't I have learnt better from Owen?"[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Uncertain Pledge - Catalyst: Week after Zhang's Estate] Status: Apathy. Acknowledged hatred. [color=00a99d]"The guy that puts the 'dumb' in dumb luck. Murder. Death. Hell, even the bullying to an extent, considering most of the class doesn't know. How have all of those not caught up to me? I'd like to believe that it's all gonna haunt me and inflict everything I deserve someday but considering the patterns so far...eh, probs not. My luck hasn't run out yet." "..." "Useless and cowardly. I know my weaknesses. After three missions with this Unit (two-and-a-half? Does D.C. count as an official operation?), pretty much the whole class knows it too. Probably don't think much of me for it. Whatever. It's not like I think much of most of them either. I used to be so caught up on how to be liked. It’s so much less work when you don’t give a shit what those assholes think." β€œβ€¦β€ β€œI didn’t think my regrets from Reno would start cropping up at East too. At least it’s different here. They’re weaker, a lot weaker. I can stop them this time. And I will. There’s enough suffering out there without dumbass teens with volatile powers adding to it. I can’t change the world or even change myself. I can only affect what’s in front of me. Don't have to be anything in particular to do that. Small steps.”[/color] [/hider] [hider=OUTDATED - Unwanted Wreckage - Catalyst: Island Getaway] Status: Extreme dislike. Overwhelming self-pity. [color=00a99d]"Useless power. Awful personality. Zero intelligence. Good thing I actually know how to talk to people now or I would've ticked all the boxes for being a complete deadweight." "..." "That last part is a complete lie. I was the biggest deadweight in that warzone. God, I don't know if I'll ever get better. I had all the reason and opportunity to at Wisford. Look what happened there." "..." "People like me. They don't know what I really am. I don't want that to change. They make me smile, feel happy even for that brief moment. I want to be better, more than anything. So I don't have to keep hiding. So I can deserve them." "..." "I...think I really am improving. I'd like to keep believing that."[/color] [/hider][/indent] [color 2e2c2d]"Heh. Now I [i]really[/i] hope you never unfreeze. This'd be some embarrassing shit otherwise."[/color] [hider=Fragments of an Mournful Past] [h3][color=00a99d]"I want to forget."[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Age 9: "Because a loser is a loser."] [quote][i]Pathetic fallacy. Thomas Mars, the movie junkie he was, had tried to explain that fancy-sounding term to a half-asleep Ernest some million years ago. They were watching some film about real estate, something with way too many adults and way too much talking for a kid to care about. Lots of swearing, but still talk he didn’t understand. Ernest hadn’t been paying attention. But even so, the memory of being tickled awake by his laughing father was prominent enough to brand those words into Ernie’s mental dictionary. His father had gotten yelled at for showing a nine-year-old a movie with so much profanity. They laughed about it afterwards.[/i][/quote] [/hider] [hider=Age 10: "I'm building a dam of memories."] [quote][i]The neighbors' houses had been completely untouched. How unfair was that? Even months later, Ernest couldn't get that image of his collapsed home unbranded from his mind. Late at night, on that dirty mattress surrounded by the gut-inverting stench of cleaning chemicals, he couldn't help but think back to that day, despite the tears he always had to keep silent lest Liam heard and yelled at him again. Why him? Why that house out of the dozens of others on that street? Did they die quickly at least? Painlessly? What kind of monster was it? How exactly had it gotten past the city's defenses? Tens of hundreds of questions swirling around in his head whenever the dark-haired boy got too much time to think, countless theories running their courses. But there was one question that he always refused to pursue. He knew who he could ask. He knew that he would get answers if he did. He knew that they could kill him on the spot if he got too close to the truth he feared. About his house. About the true monsters he was currently living with, the monsters that called this city their home and broke what they pleased. So he stopped thinking about it in the end. It wasn't worth it. What's done was done, and he couldn't let the past ruin what little future he still had. But despite the fear blocking the desperate need for answers, despite all the other shit that occupied his mind these days, it lingered at the back of his mind. He'd revisit it on the rarest of occasions, then promptly shut it away behind walls of denial. That one question. [color=00a99d]Was it really a monster attack?[/color] [/i][/quote] [/hider] [hider=Age 13: "Come here, I'm your paradise."] [quote][i][color=f7976a]”Ernie. Do you honestly think you belong here?”[/color] The question left the thirteen-year-old speechless, an unspoken fear he’d harboured for years finally surfacing in his expression. If Owen knew the implications of what he just said then he didn’t show it. [color=f7976a]β€œI mean, do you think these are good people?”[/color] The child couldn’t answer that either. He’d seen them laugh and love and shelter young subnaturals who needed it. He’d watched them clean blood off their hands and chuckle with their friends mere minutes later. Lamplight seemed to glint through the man’s shoulder-length hair. He laughed warmly. Smiled the way only the strong could. [color=f7976a]β€œThought so. That’s why things are gonna change around here. You’ll see.”[/color][/i][/quote] [/hider] [hider=Age 14: "Nobody needs to know."] [quote][i]There was so much blood. Everything was too much. Too hot. Too heavy. He--he needed to fix it! But so much. So much, everywhere. On him. It was everywhere. Everywhere, everything so messy. He needed to fix it, clean it, HIDE IT, before, oh god, before Liam--[/i][/quote] [quote][i]He needed to wash--no. Cleaning came after. The ammonia was under the sink. Throw their clothes away, burn them later if possible. Wash the mop out after wiping the floor. Too many things to take care of. So much. Everything. But first, he needed to get him away from here, before…before…[/i][/quote] [quote][color=00a99d][i]HE’S GOING TO KILL ME. DON’T LET--[/i][/color][/quote] [/hider] [hider=Age 15: "Do you ever really crash, or even make a sound?"] [quote][i][color=f7976a]"What the fuck!"[/color] The three teens scrambled away from the fallen tree trunk that had missed them by mere inches. Two other boys were part of the scene; a meek, red-headed Arbiter who'd just been freed from the torment of the three bullies, and a dark-haired Aberration holding an axe and staring blankly at the trio of bullies. The Aberration, Ernest--no, Ernie now--, couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the terror that had darkened their faces when the fir barely missed them. Was there disappointment too, when he didn't see their brains splattered on the forest ground? [color=f7976a]"Are you insane?"[/color] the leader hissed. Magic began to flare up between the trio, pathetic sigils and light shows. Ernie knew he could take all three of them. These kids were ants compared to the monsters he'd lived with in Reno. [color=00a99d]"Woah. You're not... really threatening the guy with an axe, are you?"[/color] Ernie raised an eyebrow along with the two-handed felling instrument to indicate. And just to send the message home, he took a swing at the main boy's feet. Luckily for both of them, the kid had yelped and jumped back in time to avoid losing some toes. His friends grabbed their comrade by the arm. [color=f7976a]"He's mental, we need to go!"[/color] Ernie didn't follow. He remained still, revelling in the delight that had come from their terror. A shifting noise near him drew his attention to the ginger boy, the one the trio had taken to the forest to shove up a tree or whatever it was kids did these days. The ginger, Carlton from Geography class, was still on the ground, shaking. He'd soiled his pants during the commotion, the damp area spreading slowly down his pant leg. Ernie grimaced. [color=00a99d]"That's gross as hell."[/color] [color=f7976a]"Uh, I know... I..."[/color] the Arbiter stood hurriedly and clamped his legs shut, [color=f7976a]"Sorry... And, um, th-thank you."[/color] Ernie looked to the waste of oxygen he'd inadvertently saved. On a normal day, the dark-haired boy would've just seen a loser to avoid talking to. But today, he saw future opportunities in this kid's jumpiness and meek manner. Efficiency. An escape from the fear in his mind. Release. It was a sustainable way to get the sating he needed. And he'd always been told to reuse or recycle when he had the chance. Ernie flashed the ginger a blinding smile. [color=00a99d]"I think I'll be thanking you soon."[/color][/i][/quote] [/hider][/indent] [hr][h3][color=f7976a]"Remember this."[/color][/h3] [indent][hider=Liam Maher - Aberration (Senator) - Reversal] [color=f7976a][h3] β„• 𝕒 π•ž 𝕖 : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"Liam Maher. I thought it was just Liam Maaah until I saw it written out somewhere."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] 𝔸 π•˜ 𝕖 : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"Twenty-- uh, six? Seven? I don't really know. He looked a lot older with a beard though, I can say that."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] ℍ 𝕖 π•š π•˜ 𝕙 π•₯ : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"Taller than me so around 6 foot, I think."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] π•Ž 𝕖 π•š π•˜ 𝕙 π•₯ : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"He was a pretty beefy guy. Probably weighed a lot."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] 𝔸 𝕑 𝕑 𝕖 𝕒 𝕣 𝕒 π•Ÿ 𝕔 𝕖 : [/h3][/color] [indent][img]http://i.imgur.com/sGyAJ6Z.png[/img][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] β„™ 𝕖 𝕣 𝕀 𝕠 π•Ÿ 𝕒 𝕝 π•š π•₯ π•ͺ : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"He really hated small talk. Seemed like he hated talking in general, except when it was with the boss, his older brother. He got angry easily and yelled really loudly if I ever messed up more than once. So I learned to learn quickly." "To be honest, I found it hard to actually like the guy. But I can't say that I disliked him all. Despite all the yelling and awful shit, he was kinda... reasonable. Like, the things he did made sense if you thought about it enough. He bought the supplies I needed and never hit me. He made sure none of the guys did anything physical but didn't do shit about anything else they did. He helped me with my Stigma. But he never pretended that we were brothers or friends or anything like that. I don't know if that's a good thing or not." "It was all weird and complicated. He was terrible at connecting with people. I was too. But in the end, everything I learnt about mages and taking care of myself came from him. Maybe it's the rose-tinted glasses here but sometimes I feel like he was trying to prepare me for the real world with all that gruffness. Maybe he was just an asshole after all. At least he mellowed out over the years." "Oh, the cleaning thing? His fault entirely. Years of getting screamed at can get to you like that."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] ℍ π•š 𝕀 π•₯ 𝕠 𝕣 π•ͺ : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"I don't actually know much about his life before the Senators. Only small things. Like he played basketball and fell off the roof once. He and the boss helped their dad run a bar and grill in Texas when they were young. Then they both became Aberrations around the time of the Slumber. After that, they became close friends with the big boss and started the Reno branch about a year before I arrived. Something about 'testing things out before they hit Vegas' or something like that." "He and Devon became the co-bosses of the new branch, but Devon was the face of the whole thing. I can't remember Liam ever complaining about it. He ended up being more in charge of the lounge, our base, rather than the actual operation. He ran it well so I don't think he hated it or anything..." "He was there that night. I sat in the back while he sped through the city to get to Devon and Owen. He put up a crazy good fight against the cops but I don't know what happened after I got shot. He's probably in magic jail. Or maybe he just got shot to pieces."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] 𝕄 𝕒 π•˜ π•š 𝕔 : Reversal[/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"He made things shoot up. Not the drugs way. Things would go flying upwards and only upwards, super fast. It sounds kinda lame when I say it though. Guess it's scarier when you see it yourself. One time, there was this asshole at the bar who threw his glass to the ground. Trying to start some shit, I don't know. The moment he stepped over the shattered pieces, he got slashed, inside and out from the bottom up. That was the first time I ever had to clean bloodstains on the ceiling. There were glass shards that got stuck real deep up there too. Had to use tweezers for those." "I don't really know what his radius or max speed was, or the specific sizes of things he could levitate. Apart from some random incidents, I never saw him use his power much. I heard a strategy that he and Devon would use was to lure bad guys into some gravelly or sandy area like a parking lot then tear them up there."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] 𝔻 𝕣 𝕖 𝕒 π•ž : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"I never asked."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] β„• π•š π•˜ 𝕙 π•₯ π•ž 𝕒 𝕣 𝕖 : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"I definitely never asked."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] 𝔸 𝕨 𝕒 π•œ 𝕖 π•Ÿ π•š π•Ÿ π•˜ : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"Aberration"[/color][/indent] [indent][color=f7976a] π•Š π•₯ π•š π•˜ π•ž 𝕒 : [/color][/indent] [indent][indent][color=00a99d]"I never had a deathwish big enough to ask about that."[/color][/indent][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] 𝔸 𝕣 π•ž 𝕒 π•ž 𝕖 π•Ÿ π•₯ 𝕀 : [/h3][/color] [indent][color=00a99d]"The guys would always laugh about 'pocket sand'. Makes sense, considering his power. I...can't actually remember if they were joking or not... Other than that, he had access to the whole armory in Reno. Probably knew how to use all of those fancy weapons including the big guns, considering he was the one who taught me how to shoot."[/color][/indent] [color=f7976a][h3] 𝕋 𝕙 𝕖 π•ž 𝕖 π•Š 𝕠 π•Ÿ π•˜ 𝕀 : [/h3][/color] [indent][url=https://youtu.be/thSsyODDowA]Brother[/url][/indent] [hider=He never asked.] [quote][i]Liam remained by the door, arms crossed, and he watched the dark-haired boy as he clumsily mopped the kitchen floor. Shit technique. Too much water and not enough motion. He'd have to redo it himself afterwards. Devon returned with a beer and a poorly-stifled grin. His brother's confusion must have been very entertaining to him, as usual. He must have brought the kid in just to prank him. Why else would he be here? Liam had only been gone for a few days and this was the shit he came back to? [color=f7976a]"Remember the accounts guy?"[/color] the older Maher asked, popping open his own can, [color=f7976a]"The Regular?"[/color] [color=f7976a]"Yeah, what about him?"[/color] Liam raised an eyebrow. The boy wasn't paying attention to them. Or maybe he was just too afraid to. Made sense. At that age he wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere near two burly subnatural criminals either. The X's on their throats only made it worse. This was no place for a kid. What the hell was Devon thinking? As if he read his mind and heard the question, the senior Aberration called out to the boy. [color=f7976a]"Hey, kid! What's your family name?"[/color] The child flinched, and looked fearfully towards the two mages. Liam's eyes widened slightly as the black mark on the boy's neck came into view. He couldn't have been older than ten. Well, that was just the world they lived in. Even children weren't spared from DC's shitfest. The kid remained silent for a moment, working up the courage to respond before stuttering out a quiet [color=00a99d]"M-Mars."[/color] At that, Liam's eyes widened even more. [color=f7976a]"You're kidding."[/color] Devon was unperturbed but his smile looked more muted now. More knowing than mischievous. [color=f7976a]"And your parents' names?"[/color] [color=00a99d]"Karen and... Thomas."[/color] [color=f7976a]"You're fucking kidding."[/color] The other Aberration raised his hands in surrender before shooing Ernest away. [color=f7976a]"Hey, if you want to throw the kid to the dogs, then be my guest. Hell, tell 'im about the accounts for all I care. I just thought that this was the least we could do after everything."[/color] Liam snorted. [color=f7976a]"You chose now to have a conscience?" "Sure, let's go with that. Another thing I chose was you to be the official baby-sitter." "Fuck off." "C'mon, I know you could use some more hands in the back. Look how fast he's learning."[/color] That didn't mean a thing. Liam could work fine in the kitchen on his own. This was a child they were dealing with here. To condemn this kid to a criminal life in hiding because of some non-existent debt they were obligated to fill... was this really their responsibility? What was the alternative, the newly rebuilt USARILN West? A facility infested with government dogs, sending kids out to their deaths against monsters like the one at Palo Alto. While reported monster attacks had dwindled drastically since the catastrophe, there was no guarantee that something similar wouldn't happen in the near future. Between certain death at USARILN and living precariously with the Senators, the choice was obvious. Liam sighed. [color=f7976a]"What about his power? You gonna send him out?" "No way. He's useless." "Then why keep him?"[/color] Devon's smile faded completely by now and he repeated himself. [color=f7976a]"The least we could do. I'm not that heartless, Liam." "...Fine."[/color] Liam doubted that. They both did what needed to be done, when it needed to be done. He guessed that taking in Thomas Mars' son was one of those things that they just had to do. It'd be hell on his conscience otherwise. In response, Devon clapped a heavy hand onto his shoulder, laughing heartily to dispel the serious atmosphere. [color=f7976a]"Hah! I told them you'd agree to it. See you by the ring tonight?"[/color] Liam's gaze was indistinct and he continued watching the boy. They'd need to clear some space for him to live. Having another person mess around in his kitchen was going to be a pain. And fuck, what were they gonna do about school? That wasn't an option for any of them anymore. Liam sighed. He'd figure it out. He had Devon to help him. The two of them could do anything together. [color=f7976a]"Yeah, whatever. Do I need to bring the kid?" "Up to you, bro. Though personally, I don't think bringing a newly orphaned child to a magic cage fight is a good idea." "Oh, right."[/color] This was beyond stupid. He and Devon, the oldest of this Senators branch, had barely hit their early twenties themselves. They were going to fuck this up majorly. But there were no alternatives that he could think of at the moment. With one last sigh, Liam crumpled the beer can and tossed it into the overflowing bin. No one had bothered to empty it while he was away. Guess that would be the boy's first order of business.[/i][/quote][/hider] [/hider][/indent] [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Ernie's Mission Equipment] [indent]First aid kit Towel Energy bars Barley sugar candies Collapsible water bottle, half filled Case for earphones Whistle [url=https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Detachable-Sunglasses-Motorbike-Transparent/dp/B01HPRNNL8]Mask[/url] Work gloves Spare beanie Tomahawk 9x18mm Makarov + ammunition[/indent] [/hider]