The Harbinger of Ferocity

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

I can only imagine the frustration.

As for my night? I wish it were longer. Yourself, barring your electronic matters?

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

That is a unique, unusual problem to have, as I can't say I've heard of inconsistent power being one of the many reasons people have computer trouble. I suppose I take it for granted in comparison to the many more common and mundane issues... lack of power? That's another issue altogether.

Academy 218: Still looking for new people to join - now is the primetime.

Mark Tybalt

@bluemoon277

---

A smile cracked across Kanala's cheeks as Mark proved uneasy about admitting - or at least partially so, given she was, as of now, not aware of what truly made him less than human - the extent of his meta-human ability. It wasn't an easy thing for him to say, let alone word. He couldn't conjure fire, hurl pillars of ice, tamper with electronics from a world away, or even fly. He was set with what he had and pretty clearly it wasn't about to change; at most he could, as stupid as it sounded to him, improve on his feline art.

Crossing his arms atop one another at the table, Mark proved to remain fairly attentive - listening to Kana's reply, but his focus elsewhere on the people around him. Too much activity for his own liking, just too many people with too many capabilities. Not nearly enough security - not obvious ones at least. There weren't security teams he could see; no rifles, no police types, nothing. Either the academy was confident these people could manage, or they had something way, way scarier than NEST or any good natured students here.

Concealed eyes shifting back to Kanala, she finished with, "That and I can sort of read minds a bit."

That wasn't what caught Mark's attention, it was the bit before; the bit about manipulating animals. Overlooking what it was she just said, he thought to himself with a bit of concern.

Control animals...?

It sent a bit of concern into Mark's person, as that worried thought crossed his mind; the concept of being toyed with like a puppet by someone. Previously he thought it harder to toy with his mind, given he had, at least in a feline shape, essentially two psyches coexisting; one him and the other the animal's inherent persona. Sure each cat was different, Mark "knew" quite a few through his ability to live through them and had done so frequently in his search to understand who he was and what was to become of him.

Pacing himself this time, aware he was keeping Kanala company here at the table, he replied.

"I know specialists exist for certain animals, but they sent mere here for more than just that." Mark spoke, bring up the topic to quickly switch gears with the intent that Kanala wouldn't catch on.

"Read minds a bit?" He said, transitioning topics whilst attempting to remain elusive to some extent - the whole time he tried to train his attention on her and less his introspective moments.

The most he could do was sort of push aside the reality that he was getting more and more accustomed to the transformation; it wasn't panic anymore. It was become smoother, more familiar and most of all... comfortable. Still by no means a mastery, but if he had the option and choice, he wasn't about to let the only person he had met know he toed the border between human and inhuman a lot. It was bad enough that his mannerisms - the way he sat now, sort of protective of his seat and the food of which he hadn't even begun eating - were tainted with predatory (feline) qualities, but those he could at least pass off as quirks of his personality.

Academy 218: Still looking for new people to join - now is the primetime.

Mark Tybalt

@bluemoon277

---

Before he had so much as the ability to lead the way, Kamalahad thrown herself into the horde with an aggressive determination. It was... well, different really for him to see a girl her age so relentlessly pursue something; just the notion that they needed food and a table, going together and she was off. Mark didn't hesitate to follow Kanaka, in more ways than one fairly amused by her personality and her willingness to just take action without need for discussion or debate. Quite nice, really - nod needing to argue with someone.

Following a step behind, the numbers parted a bit faster and soon enough both Kana and Mark had found their meals; it took a bit of a fight, but the feline in Mark enjoyed the prospect of having to out that tiny more effort in to maximize effect. It had a presence to it, or so Mark could readily tell - a perceived authority it held itself with and manifested through him.

Overhearing Kana, ears attuned to her over the noise, he replied casually.

"True, but all the same I know more of you than anyone else here, even if that 'more' is realistically just a little."

The two proved to sit ddown at one of the large, ornate tables - Kanala setting an elbow atop it. Mark however, slung his pack beside his foot; it was in reach, not that it was to be stolen, as there were plenty of attentive eyes and the students largely preoccupied, but it felt safer. He relaxed ever so slightlyin response, looking to Kana with a quirked brow as she requested, having turned her laugh to a more serious, direct tone.

Mark paused, blinking with a sort of short breath. It caught him off guard, but he should have known this was coming, particularly from the woman he just met; everything about her thus far suggested she would have asked this question now rather than later.

Mark debated greatly what to tell her first - it was a bit difficult to say he sort of changed into large cats and had empathy toward them like some sort of failed psychic.

"I," He said, pausing a bit, trying to word it the best he could, chuckling with a sort of awkward, shy laugh, "Well, I am an empath... for felines."

That sounded stupid, he rationalized, wondering if she even knew what he meant; after all, what could she do? Probably something far more complex and dangerous no less.

"I can influence them... even heal them."

Academy 218: Still looking for new people to join - now is the primetime.

Mark Tybalt

@bluemoon277

---

Why people avoided Mark was not a simple single answer rationale; it was inherently complex by virtue of human psychology, but simple enough that when you backed away from it all, not an ounce of real thought was required. Even in a school full of meta-humans, they behaved largely like people - at least these newer students did, the ones surrounding the former college student and full time slacker. It ranged from the fact he was tall, to the fact he was fairly well built, to whatever animalistic psychic radiation he gave off, to a myriad of other factors.

Or so he rationalized.

It was by the time Mark was thinking about it, he came to the conclusion that he had lost his cohort. It came with a light wave of guilt... Admittedly he wasn't exactly accustomed to looking out for anyone, but he did pretty explicitly ask if Kanala had wished to join him - which she did, blushingly no less. The whole incident was a bit awkward now, causing him to turn and look about, soon finding the formerly missing girl.

She wasn't hard to find, actually. That was a moderate surprise to Mark - she had a fighting spirit to her as she pushed and shoved shoulder to shoulder through the crowd until she caught up with him, having following in the wake he cut among the rampant persons and staff that attempted to guide them.

"So, I'm gonna grab a seat wanna come with or meet me after you get food?"

Her voice inquired over the ambient noise that was the many gathered peoples' conversations. Mark's attention shifted away from Kana briefly, scanning the cafeteria with a certain instinctual hunting to his golden glare, concealed solely by the pair of aviator sunglasses; he noted a few familiar faces... well, one - Casper from earlier, but short of that no one he "knew". Probably buried in all the continued energy and interaction.

Turning back to Kana who proved to be smiling (perhaps almost laughing), he replied, "Maybe this time I shouldn't get so ahead of myself."

"We might as well go together." He added, to avoid confusion as to what he meant, being sure to infer he would not lose his new companion as carelessly as he did before.

"Besides, it isn't like I 'know' anyone else." In a way he sort of regretted the phrasing as those words left his mouth, as he honestly knew nothing about Kanala either, just that she appeared to be of some native descent, was slightly heavier than her peers, and preferred to be called "Kana".

All in all, she still boiled down to be a lot more human than Mark did - at least as far as "normalcy" went. There was a reason he wore sunglasses, even here at Academy 218.

Needless to say, he had noted some more unusual characters on the fringes of the cafeteria, one of whom wore a large metallic... diving helmet? Didn't matter - not right now at least. Mark didn't get a sense of any obvious, well threats? He felt like his father, thinking like that - always looking for any danger, as if something, here of all places at an academy, were to really happen.

Academy 218: Still looking for new people to join - now is the primetime.

Mark Tybalt

@bluemoon277

---

"I guess its just you and me now huh?"

Mark remained quiet, proving to give an agreeable nod over the gentle, steady lapping of the waves against the sturdy ship to Kanala; having noted the girl's ability to stand with minimal effort in a sweep of grace. It remained human, familiar enough in that sense, not the sort of motion that wasn't human. Mark had seen enough evidence of that - footage of, what appeared to be people, moving too fast or too gracefully. It was discomforting - at least he, as far as he rationalized it, moved with the grace of the cat he took on when he assumed their shape.

Kana proved to join him in leaning over the railing; Mark had no remarks for the departing parties, in fact, he didn't honestly care. It was indifference, with one of the two students seeming particularly uneasy about the presence of anyone. Understandable - he himself wasn't fond of meta-humans, as ironic as that was. It was a bit... strange to not only be so old here, but to have gone through life without any exposure to them beyond what the internet and media brought to life.

Listening to girl's yawn, Mark stretched slightly, cracking each joint in his knuckles before she spoke again, this time smiling and reminiscing about the sea. He followed her logic as best he could muster, it made enough sense as to what she was saying; waves were waves, no matter where you went, beautiful with a potential for violence in every case.

"No," Mark paused as Kanala proved to explain with added depth about the nature of her experience with the vast watery expanses, "I understand what it is you mean."

He hesitated, trying to formulate his response the most reasonable way he could; "I wasn't ever around a large amount of water. Certainly not afraid or bothered by it, but I prefer my feet to be on firm ground."

Looking toward her slightly as the ship adjusted its course much closer toward the island, the engines and rudder working together to steer closer through the faint misty, humid air toward a faint dock that appeared on the horizon. Needless to say, while Mark wasn't pleased with the fact that they were already here, no more happy with his situation than he was before, he at least was glad the ship wasn't traversing the cold open waters for much longer with them all aboard. There were many reasons he preferred water he knew more about... Alaskan waters? He didn't know the first thing about this environment. He'd need time to wander whatever wilderness he could to understand them.

"I gather we're almost there..."

He adjusted his hat, looking back to Kana.

"Care to join me?"

---

As if bad needed to turn worse, this island appeared to be home to a castle-esque structure... the academy itself. This, along with everything else he could just inherently feel about the environment around him as the students were lead through the far more cheery and vibrant garden did not make the cat in Mark any the slightest happier. It felt like the forest here were just... ominous? Forbidden maybe? Like they were hiding something - something that the academy didn't want to contend with. It didn't sit right, whatever it was.

Neither did the Head Mistress or the man in black suit and coat.

Miranda Caryl?

Mark did his best to commit the name to memory, because as far as he was concerned, he was in the enemy's territory now. The boat, at best was neutral ground, state waters. Here...? This island? This building? Hell, even the seat he was sitting in now within a giant auditorium as probably the oldest member here short of the cadre of teachers? All federal government. NEST's pride and joy public project.

Doing all he could to note her words, the tempo wasn't right; it was off. It certainly wasn't a college introduction speech or the type given by the run of the mill professor or doctor.

The backpack between his legs, a three day kit, had basically all Mark stilled owned; everything he hadn't mauled. It wasn't much, but it did feel like he was being shuffled along - not long enough in any one place to get a good, continuous look at anything that he considered high value or of interest. For example, who was the man on stage with the Head Mistress? What value was he? Was he her husband? A Head Master? Teacher? Whatever - he'd find out eventually.

Slinging his pack, one loop over his shoulder, he stepped into what appeared to be a mass cafeteria.

"You have got to be kidding me."

It was organized chaos, with every inch of the entire dining hall polished and orderly ordained. Great, long tables, fine utensils, banners - you name it, they had it. It spoke of wealth, affluence and power... for a bunch of, lack of better words, kids Mark thought. Sighing, shrugging the pack slightly, he glanced around to see if Kanala had caught up with him.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

Good afternoon, all present viewers and those soon to read after.

Academy 218: Still looking for new people to join - now is the primetime.

He certainly hasn't done anything directly to Mark yet. Or should I better say, what Mark perceives as being done to him intentionally.

Academy 218: Still looking for new people to join - now is the primetime.

I do not take it personal, plus it gives the character reason to sort of scoff at the "childishness" of it all, given that Mark has the capacity and notion that he's surrounded by "kids". I wouldn't mind putting the two in a shared environment just to establish more tension and build off that character interaction, @Tyler.

Academy 218: Still looking for new people to join - now is the primetime.

Mark Tybalt

---

A short conversation carried on between the small, light toned student - his voice wavered here and there, a bit uneasy and unsteady - and the young woman, who seemed to share far more optimism in her voice. Having arrived late to the conversation as he did, the content did not make immediate sense; sure it followed a logical path, something or other about the limitations of what Mark reasoned to be the smaller student's abilities, which apparently did not apply to organic material, whatever they did. In a way, that was a relief to the older student as he looked out over the vast water, eying the island beyond - providing no interruption in their banter.

"Hello Mark. I'm Kanala, but you can call me Kana."

Looking over his shoulder, having not paid too much attention before, given it wasn't his place to, he noted each of the students as she introduced them after herself; Casper, the smaller more timid one seeming more easy about his presence than either Mason - the taller student - or Kanala, or should he say Kana.

"Casper." Mark nodded in reply alongside his words directing his attention to each of the male students, arms crossed atop one another on the chill metal railing, "Mason."

"Kana." He said, finishing back on the speaker herself as she was upon the deck, sitting with legs crossed.

"In a way you can say that..." The eldest student trailed off, drawing a sighing breath, "I was directed to the academy if I wanted to live a 'normal' life."

The cold, while not biting or irritating proved a bit distracting; even with the flannel shirt he wore and his newly adapted resistance to temperatures, it certainly was not the kind of sensation he preferred as a person. Everything about the environment, barring the open water beneath and around him, spoke to him that a pelt would better serve him here. Now, it was one thing to desire comfort in a strange, perhaps truly unusual and new environment, it was another to pressure himself out of the notion that shapeshifting was always the answer to anything that didn't sit immediately well with him.

In their own way, perhaps they were correct - perhaps these government academies did really know what they were doing.

Previously Mark was entirely happy with being a human being, wanting nothing to do with meta-capability and here he was now, talking to three other students on a boat sailing steadily for an academy, all while suppressing the urge to turn into a six hundred pound tiger just because it felt more appropriate and comfortable for the environment around him.

"I take it you are too?" Mark changed the direction of the conversation from himself to the trio before him.