Shard

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

'Oh, thanks...' Casper placed his hand gently upon the handle of his traveling bag. Someone, probably the person he saw with it before, had placed it by his room, outside the door. He hadn't seen his roommate yet, wherever he might be. Hopefully he wasn't going to be a slob, or worse, a bully. It wasn't just himself he was afraid for, but others as well. He didn't know what would happen if someone walked up to hit him. Before he'd just take it and cry it off in a corner somewhere but now he could actually hurt people. Was this mutation a gift or a curse? Was it the universe telling him to fight or was it something else entirely? Casper had never been a superstitious person and he didn't believe in any kind of religion. This was all just genetics and whatever, things he didn't understand.

The boy carefully placed the key in the lock and twisted it slowly. 'Please don't break, please don't break...' He took a deep breath and opened the door without fault. Success.

Stepping into the room, Casper laid eyes on the small square with two beds next to each other. There was a bedside table next to each and two closets for their clothes. He closed the door behind him after he rolled the case into the room and easily carried it unto his bed. There is was, his mutation. That bag felt like little more than a feather and it just happened a month ago. Out of nowhere, the scrawny boy's non-existent muscles turned into something titanic below his skin.

He dropped onto his bed with a deep sigh and slid the headset down to his neck. 'Let's do a head count...' It was good to know who was who and who to avoid. First off, the person who stuck out the most, Snake Lady. She looked scary, that's for sure. It was unfair to judge her based on that but she didn't really give off a positive aura. She seemed a bit condescending in a way.

Speaking of bad auras, though. That boy with the sunglasses, just being around him made Casper feel like hell. Was it some kind of mutation or did Casper just suddenly have a shift in moods? No, Casper didn't have any issues with moods just switching like that. As far as he know, he was rather stable in that regard. What was his name again? Damn, he couldn't remember. Well, he seemed like a nice guy but there was something off about him...

Next there was the blind guy. There wasn't much to say about him. Casper hadn't spoken to him or anyone else, really. He could only chalk it down to visual first impressions, no pun intended. Just like the other guy who had this dark aura about him, the blind guy seemed to be on the kinder side of the spectrum. Casper and these two boys could probably get along.

Moving on to one of the other girls, she was small and rather scrawny, just like Casper. She did however fall into the same category as Snake Lady. She gave off a bad vibe and she was probably someone to look out for. Speaking of which, didn't she light a smoke using fire based powers? Judging from the various incidents Casper had read up on, elemental mutants were among the most dangerous. He needed to stay clear of her, or rather, stay on her good side.

There were two other girls, wasn't there? They both gave off a more positive impression than Snake Lady and Fire Girl. They seemed more bubbly or rather, simply less frightening. Perhaps Casper would come in contact with them at some point. He didn't dread it, especially not as much as being stuck in a class room, sitting right next to the Medusa.

'Okay, who's left?' Oh right, that Mason guy. So far the only thing that came to mind while thinking of him were the words 'Social' and 'Cigarette'. He seemed nice enough. He was the first one to initiate a conversation when the group was gathered, wasn't he? Well, Mason was probably going to be one of the more social people around.

Speaking of social people, that other guy followed suit. Kane, was it? Oh, yeah. He seemed like a happy-go-lucky guy and he was sure to spread some positive energy around. If Casper ever mustered the strength to speak with any of these people, approaching a social person would probably be the second step, however. Talking to another introvert would perhaps be easier.

Another british guy also arrived, yet another social guy. There seemed to be a lot of them. He was hauling a bag around, that's what Casper remembered about him.

Was this all of them? No, there were like three more, weren't there? Casper reached his hand up and rubbed his forehead. There were so many people here and he hadn't even met his roommate. If his roommate at least was one of the people he had seen already, it would be easier to deal with but this guy hadn't even showed up yet. Well, all he could do now was to wait.

Casper moved his traveling bag back to the floor and stretched out across the bed. This would be a long, long year.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

He had been told that he was going to get to the academy by bus, but this was quite a surprise. Could they afford such a luxury ride? Perhaps this school, PITY, was more well off than they let on. Well, it was supposed to be prestigious school after all, wasn't it? Casper quickly found home next to a window and dove back into his game, his headphones playing various kinds of music on a moderate volume. It was quite hard to place the boy's tastes as they varied drastically depending on mood. When he was sad or low, he'd listen to something aching to that emotion while happier more action packed songs would accompany his more upbeat stages.

His bag, together with everyone else's, was thrown into the bottom of the bus. Casper could never be considered a very material person but he was always plastered to his music player and game console. One could say that they were the two items he actually cared about. His clothes which were all packed into the bag were rather plain and simple. He didn't only wear 'emo' inspired outfits. He also wore typical t-shirts and sometimes tried to be more colourful with various brightly coloured bracelets. Sometimes he wore a knitted hat to keep his hair of his eyes and his personality was a lot more colourful than his shy demeanour would let on.

A full hour passed and the boy didn't interact with anyone else. Perhaps it was a good idea to have done so but he chose the easier path. He would probably be paired up with someone in a room either way so it could wait. After the bus stopped, something that came after three whole bumps by armed security, the group could finally get off. Finally, it was getting really tight in there. One would think that being on a luxury ride didn't get old but when you're all by yourself, surrounded by other people you don't know, it feels less comfortable. Who was he to complain, though. One guy actually looked blind. He was probably less comfortable. Imagine being packed together within bunch of strangers you can't even see.

Upon stepping into the assembly hall, Casper noticed how the group's bags had been taken to their respective rooms. Well, that was one thing to keep his mind off of. Quite the service, he had to admit. The finally dressed man addressing the assembly would however put a damper on the experience. He was rather boring, honestly. Everything he went through was one promise after the other and the only thing Casper cared about was getting his incredibly annoying power in check. It was getting in the way all the time and it was only a matter of time before he'd accidentally hurt someone. Professor Alan Portwood, he wasn't so bad. He was just a tad dry. After you've heard one principle telling you why their school is so excellent, you've heard them all.

This man was the end of this scene. The assembly moved out and towards the reception area where they would be given their room numbers and roommates. A woman stood behind a desk and turned to the young man currently standing there. She had some documents ready and handy for when she spoke. "Mason Crawford!" She exclaimed, peeking out into the group of people sitting below the stage. She seemed a bit lost, honestly.

'Mason...was that the guy with the same and the dungarees?' Casper examined the young man further and that was indeed him.

"You're in 139, and lucky you! You get the whole room to yourself. Have a nice day, Mason!" The woman continued. Oh, people could actually be put in a room by themselves? That sounded a lot safer than the alternative but was it the best outcome? Probably not. Casper knew that he needed to work on his social skills and being able to deal with a roommate was essential. His life had been very hard to lead due to his social anxiety and if he wanted to put a lid on it, he would have to give others a chance. It was something he had put off for a very long time. "Next!" She continued as Casper stepped up. "Ah, Casper."

"Yeah..." The boy responded.

"Room 138: Casper Vaile and Celso Olivero!" That settled it, then. Casper had a roommate. He couldn't remember anyone by that name, maybe he arrived at another time.

Casper reached his hand forth and got handed a key before he was allowed to continue down the various corridors in search of his room. So this was it, the start of the year. With a deep sigh, Casper placed his hand on his stomach and breathed out. 'Everything is going to go well...no need to freak out. I'm here because I'm need to stop being a danger...' Casper would find himself repeating those words quite often, but they did in fact help him through this. If he ever accidentally hurt anyone, he would have a very difficult time forgiving himself, not to the mention the legal complications which would follow. This was where he needed to be and he would make the best of it. He would at the very least try...

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

If anyone has any complaints about their roommates...Of course you won't! We all love each other!

I just want to see Snakes and Thug over there in a small room together...."Casper prepares popcorn."

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

For interactions and conversations, use collabs.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

‘People are introducing themselves now…maybe I should, too. I’ve only had my power for like a month, the rest of the people here are probably masters of their’s…and they’re all probably a lot stronger than me. Maybe…maybe not physically…’ Casper sighed softly and turned his Vita off, careful like never before. When he was nervous he had even less control of his powers, and if he’d accidentally break his Vita, that would be the end to one of his most precious friends. “I-I’m…Casper.” The boy managed, clenching his teeth after he had spoken. Did he in fact manage that? Good, that was step one. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but he was sure that most of them heard him. The ones that didn’t could hear it repeated from the others.

Fiddling with his fingers, the last thing Casper wanted was to shake someone’s hand. For him to be at the academy was incredibly critical, they needed to teach him how to control his power. Luckily his powers were personal and did never extend beyond his physical body. He couldn’t shoot energy blasts at people, he couldn’t make them fly with a thought and he couldn’t conjure the elements. As long as he didn’t touch anyone, he’d be fine, everyone would be fine.

Speaking of which, what was everyone’s power? What were these people capable of? It was ironic how Casper wanted to learn how to control his powers in a safe environment but this was possibly the most dangerous place he could be in. How many of these misfits could control their powers? Was anyone there like Casper?

Casper’s eyes trailed to this other boy, Greg. He seemed almost as nervous as Casper himself. What could he do? He knew something that he shouldn’t? Something about smoking? It was hard to follow, especially when Casper was deep in thought. He hadn’t been paying much attention. “H-hello…” Casper gulped, speaking in Greg’s direction but anyone could answer. It wasn’t specifically meant for anyone, but making friends with these people was better than being their enemy, right? Being none of that was probably the best thing but if he sat there quietly, people might think he’s rude and that would probably lead to bad things.

The boy’s hands fell to his knees softly tapping his kneecaps as his legs pulled together slightly. This wait was growing horrendous, couldn’t the bus just arrive, already? It was good that the rest were making small talk but Casper was incredibly bad at that. Small talk was seriously not his thing. The boy's eyes found home on the ground below his feet as his fingers gently ran through his black and pink hair. It would be easier if someone else initiated a conversation with him, maybe.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

Scent - Casper usually smells like the Head n' shoulders shampoo. He rarely wears any kind of cologne, but when he does he enjoys wearing something fruity. Casper puts a lot of effort into being clean as he's somewhat of a perfectionist so smelling like head n' shoulders shampoo is his default.

Voice - It would be easy to pick out his voice. It is quiet, shy yet rather high pitched. He speaks rather slowly and sounds incredibly insecure when he does so.

Body - Casper can be heard playing his Playstation Vita quite often, his fingers on the buttons. He doesn't weigh much so his footsteps can be hard to make out and he doesn't move around much unless he needs to get somewhere. His steps are somewhat careful, as if he's afraid to break something if he walks too quickly. He tries to be gentle with everything he touches but you might hear, quite often, things accidentally breaking when he picks them up.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

Edited Casper's power, interests and his powers date of appearance.

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

I am actually considering giving Casper another mutation, the one Leo had...xD It would be so fuckin' hilarious if the scrawniest and most delicate lill' kid in the group had Super Strength as a mutation! XD

I am gonna' go and watch Age of Ultron now, when I get home I might actually change it since Casper's mutation hasn't been mentioned IC yet. I have used replication so much that it might be fun to give him something else...xD

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

Haha xD, yeah...whaddya' know lol

Portwood Institute for Talented Youths (PITY)

“We’ll be there soon, I am so sorry!” Kyle’s fingers wrapped themselves around the steering wheel, charging down the road in their small car. The boy next to him didn’t seem to be paying much attention to the road, but rather had his eyes fixed on the portable video game console in his hands, a pair of headphones slipped on his head. They were of the Koss variant, to be exact. The playstation vita in his hands would quite often find home in the scrawny boy’s possession as it was his favourite, static pastime.

“It’s okay.” He replied, his voice quite light but quiet all the same. It would fit his frame and one couldn’t expect anything else. ‘I just hope that this won’t make things hard one me…’ He continued, the thoughts stabbing at the back of his mind. He’d be so exposed if he was there last, or close to last. Kyle had been forced to run an errand before he could bring his son to the bus and it had taken a lot longer than the both of them would have expected.

“I am sure you’ll get a lot of friends at school, Casper.” The boy’s father smiled as he changed his tune from worried to hopeful. In response, the boy simply shrugged. He couldn’t expect to find many friends since he didn’t make the effort himself. It was after all his responsibility to take that step but he honestly didn’t want to. He enjoyed life the way it was, by himself mostly. All of his friends were back home and they weren’t people he’d hang out with outside of school or airsofting. This wouldn’t be any different, it never was. He wasn't complaining, though. This gave Casper a lot of alone time.

“Maybe…” He spoke, keeping his attention on the viciously swinging swords on his screen. It was a rather funny scene, actually. Kyle had been a pacifist for as long as the man could remember but his son Casper was anything but. No one would expect it, especially not if you’d judge him by his appearance. The small stature, the scared and careful personality, the reserved shyness, it all pointed towards something completely different but this boy loved action. There was nothing better than violence in video games and movies, it was just so cool. The combat, the action, the over-the-top violence…it was a world to escape this one, a world where Casper actually was someone.

“Remember to be nice to the others.” Kyle continued to speak, chuckling slightly as his son raised an eyebrow in response. The two of them were very different, in many ways. Kyle’s features were rather light with brown hair and blue eyes, something quite a stretch from his son’s black hair and brown eyes. He got it from his mother who in turn got it from her middle eastern father. She was in all respects Swedish though. “And remember to speak your mind when you want to, Casper.” It was a well known fact that the boy had huge problems with expressing himself. Some people thought he had a speech impediment but it was in fact simply insecurity and a major lack of self esteem.

“Yeah…” Casper replied, pausing his game for a moment to let his mind travel. ‘Speak my mind? They’ll probably pound me…’

“Here we are!” Kyle brought the boy out of his thoughts with a loud exclamation, almost startling his son. Casper felt his heart racing at the sight. There were a bunch of people there already. Damn it, this couldn’t be good. His hands started shaking slightly as they were tightly holding onto the console but he’d notice Kyle’s hand placed upon his own. “It’s going to be fine, my son.” The man spoke with a gentle voice accompanied by a soft smile.

“Th-thanks…dad…” Casper gulped, looking through the window to see the others. He felt like a kitten in a pride of lions. Stepping out of the car, Casper slipped his Playstation Vita into the smaller, black and pink, shoulder bag he was wearing. He rarely ever left the house without it. The rest of his torso followed the same theme, black and pink with a thin shirt stretching down just below the waistband of his blue jeans. Bright red Converse clad his feet, rather clean and new. The thing that would stick out the most though would be the bright pink stripes in the black hair covering the left side of his face.

Kyle rolled up the boy’s suitcase and with a gentle hug, they said goodbye. It was best not to linger, especially in front of these people.

Placing both of his hands on the traveling case, Casper slowly approached the others as he rolled the case next to him. He didn’t say anything, he couldn’t. ‘They’re all staring at me…this is so uncomfortable….’ He looked up for a moment to see his father leaving and then turned back to the others. ‘A-are those….snakes? That’s cool but God…everyone is so…’ Well, on the plus side, Casper wasn’t the weirdest one around. ‘So…scary…’ His thoughts didn’t make it any easier for him. He felt his heartbeat accelerating further but he tried not to let it get in the way. Tilting the suitcase over, Casper gently sat down upon it, clearly revealing so how little he weighed. He reached back into his shoulder bag and produced his Vita, turning it on. ‘It does seem like those two guys are just sitting around though…that one guy seems polite, the guy who smokes…That small girl looks scarier than the snake lady…’ He breathed out for a moment as he saw the screen flash to a start in his hands. Maybe things would get better once he’d get settled.