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Post by Yuki on Jan 12, 2021 23:40:28 GMT -8
It has been a solid week and half since the fight at the mall and so many things have happened since then, Meeting Casey, seeing Sean again... But the biggest thing was that his little sister Anna now had powers! And of course it had to happen when she was at a store and she ended up stopping a robbery.... He had to tell her about John now.. He just had to. The thought of John learning about Anna made him sick to his stomach. She had to know in order to protect herself.. But how to bring him up... And just how much to tell her..
The school bell rang and Taylor quickly left the school not really in the mood to talk to anyone.. He had lots of things to think about and wanted to be alone. He had just taken a few steps off school grounds when he was suddenly punched in the face and fell to the ground. "Gahh...." Taylor grunted as he lay there. Dammit just what he needed... He then sat up shooting a glare at his attackers while holding his hand over his right eye. It was the school bullies that always picked on him. " Well well well.. Mister big shot taking down baddies at the mall... But we all know it was the other two who did all the work... You weakling.." The leader of the thugs said as he then went to kick Taylor.
However Taylor summoned a gust of wind to push all three of them back and knocking them to the ground. Taylor stood up as he made a wind barrier around himself. "Leave me alone!" Taylor yelled at them. The three thugs got back up and the leader laughed. " Ooh look that he as some fight in him after all." He looked a bit shaken but his pride was not allowing him to leave just yet. He then nodded to his buddies and they placed themselves around Taylor surrounding him. Taylor glared them aghhh how was he gonna get out of this?
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Post by Lepa on Jan 14, 2021 0:12:45 GMT -8
Casey sighed, waiting by the bus stop. He'd been waiting for Riki Ohara, who happened to be a tutor at the school. They'd made plans to meet up with Ricky and mess around at the arcade, but a last minute call from Riki cancelled all of that. Apparently he'd been asked to take on another student that afternoon. Casey was a bit disappointed, but who was he to stop Riki from earning his keep? Still, that left him all the way out here in the city. He figured he might as well find some way to amuse himself before he returned home... And boy, did that opportunity crop up quick. "Well well well.. Mister big shot taking down baddies at the mall..."Oh? Wait a minute... "But we all know it was the other two who did all the work... You weakling..""Leave me alone!"Casey recognized that voice. He almost couldn't believe it. "...Seriously?" He scratched his head with a snerk, looking over at the scene. Sure enough, there was that kid again... and he was in trouble... again. Man, how much trouble did this boy get into? Rather than leaping in to give him a hand, Casey quietly stood aside and watched. These were kids. Taylor should've been able to handle himself against other kids, yeah? Even if he was outnumbered, he had wind powers. That alone should've given him an advantage. Casey watched as Taylor did in fact use his powers, but... it didn't seem to be enough to keep them punks down. "Ugh... Whaddya doin'?" Casey grumbled to himself as he watched. Sure, their leader seemed a bit shaken up, but these little brats were determined. "Damnit, kid... Don't just let 'em talk...! You gotta..." He trailed off and sighed in frustration as he watched the kids surround Taylor. For a moment, Casey considered standing back. Maybe Taylor deserved a beating. After all, that's how he learned how to defend himself, but at the same time... the kid didn't look like much of a fighter at all. Hell, how did he have powers and not manage to drive off these punks? It just didn't make sense. He sighed again. "Guess I ain't got no choice," Casey murmured again as he pulled his hood up. As he shoved his hands in his pockets, he was surprised to find the mask that he'd worn at the mall. He couldn't help but let out an amused chuckle as he fastened it over his face before making his way over to the scene. "Glad y'all think I pulled my weight at the mall, boys." He announced as he stalked towards the group. He shot Taylor a knowing glance. "Hey, kid. Sounds like yer little friends here are interested in a... demonstration." He lazily cracked his neck. "So whaddya y'all say?" Casey cracked his knuckles, both hands igniting into blue flames with each crack. "I'd be more than happy to show y'all just how exactly I beat the sh*t out that guy." |
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Post by Yuki on Jan 14, 2021 17:17:30 GMT -8
Taylor glared at the bullies as he tried to come up with idea to deal with them without hurting them. But all that went out the window it seemed when Taylor heard a familiar voice. Taylor froze a bit as he saw Casey wearing the same mask from that day coming over. " You? Why..." Taylor managed to say through his shock. Color drained from his face as Casey went on to threatened the punks. Was he really gonna beat them up? Yes.... Yes he would.. Aghhhhh why was he even here? Taylor then looked back at the bullies to see their reaction.
"Holy sh***" One of them said backing up, the grunts where wavering backing away. The leader now had gone pale as he glared over at Casey. He had seen how this guy fights from a video someone had recorded of the fight at the mall. his gut told him to run but his stubbornness kept his feet planted firm, but his voice was caught within his throat.
"Dammit! He's not kidding get out of here!" Taylor yelled at the leader but was ignored. Taylor gave a very annoyed groan as the winds suddenly started to whip around and the leader of the group went flying backwards away from Taylor and Casey. "Get out of here!" Taylor yelled at them again. This time the grunts left forcing their leader to come with them.
When they where gone the winds died down and Taylor collapsed to his hands and knees breathing a sigh of relief. He then sat up on his knees running his fingers through his hair. What a fine day this was starting to shape into.. Taylor then looked over at Casey with a confused expression. "What are you doing here?" Taylor asked voicing his confusion as he covered his left eye that was starting to turn black with his hand.
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Post by Lepa on Jan 14, 2021 19:13:09 GMT -8
Casey dismissed his flames, letting out a snicker as the little punks ran off. He pulled his mask off and threw back his hood, smirking in amusement.
"What are you doing here?"
"Whaddya think, kid?" He glanced down at him, shoving the mask of fangs back into his hoodie pocket. "Savin' yer ass." He snerked. "Nah, real answer: I got a friend who works at the school. I was waitin' 'round for him, but he cancelled on me." He shrugged. Casey definitely seemed more open than their last encounter, though whether or not that was a good thing was something Taylor had yet to see. After all, he hadn't known him very long...
Still, Casey couldn't help but frown as he caught a glimpse of Taylor's forming bruise. "...Honestly, kid." He glanced off in the direction the punks had escaped to. "If ya just did more of that wind stuff to begin with, I don't think I'd've had to show myself at all." He shrugged nonchalantly. "So why'd ya hesitate like that? You had more than enough chances to fight back, but ya just let them... surround you." He folded his arms in thought. As a seasoned brawler himself, it was a little bit infuriating to see; sort of like watching a newbie stumble around in a video game you'd played for years. Then again, Casey supposed everyone had to start somewhere... but still.
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Post by Yuki on Jan 14, 2021 20:06:24 GMT -8
Taylor rolled his eyes at Casey's joke about saving him but nodded when Casey said he had been here waiting for a friend. So that dashed any thoughts that Casey was here for him for some reason and he started to relax a little more. It was just a coincidence yeah... Gahhh dammit dealing with John has made him so paranoid with everything! Casey however went on about how the fight went. That snapped the young boy out of his thoughts, he looked at Casey before looking away. "I.. I just don't want to hurt anyone.. A friend of mine helped come up with that wind barrier.. It usually works.. Keeps them away from me till they get bored... Before I would just deal with getting beaten.. So things are not as bad as they once where." As Taylor said this flash backs of when he first used his powers ran through his mind. The looks he got from his friends... The shocked scared looks that he could do something they couldn't.. Even his best friend at the time.. Brandon looked at him with unease and then stopped hanging out with him. A dark shadow crossed Taylor's face as he relived those moments in his mind.
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Post by Lepa on Jan 15, 2021 0:27:22 GMT -8
"I.. I just don't want to hurt anyone.. A friend of mine helped come up with that wind barrier.. It usually works.. Keeps them away from me till they get bored..."Casey raised a brow. This wasn't a one off thing he'd stumbled into? "Before I would just deal with getting beaten.. So things are not as bad as they once where."Casey couldn't help but shift through a range of visible emotions. "What." Casey interjected flatly. "I'm sorry, but... did I hear that right?" He questioned. "You tellin' me... you let them beat ya up?" He made the statement in disbelief, staring at the child with an expression similar to his tone. For someone who'd fought for most of his adult life, hearing such words just... sounded wrong. It wasn't like the kid was throwing his fights, either: he openly admitted he just let others walk all over him. That didn't sit right with Casey. He considered scolding Taylor, but when he noticed the grim look on his face, Casey held his tongue. Whatever it was the kid was thinking about, he figured now wasn't the time to berate him. Hell, even if something wasn't eating at him, could he even have handled it? Casey briefly recalled the last time one of his angry scoldings went sour, causing a girl he was training to cry. Coupled with the fact that he damn near scared Taylor half to death last time they met, well... it probably wasn't the best idea to begin with. At the very least, he'd learned to reign it in since the incident with that girl - or he liked to think he did. Besides... the last thing Casey needed was getting caught in front of the school yelling at one of the students with a black eye. He sighed. "Listen," he started, offering out a hand to help Taylor up. "Ya mind if we... uh... talk about this problem of yers?" He looked away. "Or at least get ya some ice for that eye?"
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Post by Yuki on Jan 15, 2021 9:24:48 GMT -8
Taylor could not help but flinch a little when Casey questioned that he let others beat him up.. Dammit was he gonna yell at him now? "Why did I have to say that?" Taylor silently scolded himself as he remined silent. It felt like forever before Casey spoke again, What? He wanted to talk? Great... Taylor then looked at Casey's out reached hand. Taylor hesitated a bit before reaching out his own hand taking Casey's offered one. "O..Ok." Taylor said softly as he stood up with Casey's help.
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Post by Lepa on Jan 15, 2021 16:05:01 GMT -8
"All right, there we go. Now, uh..." Casey paused, glancing around. "Oh. Gimmie a sec," He said before jogging off in the direction of a nearby ice cream truck. He had a small chat with the vendor who seemed hesitant. A moment later, Casey returned, handing Taylor a small plastic bag of crushed ice. "...Here. Should help with that shiner." He offered. "Jus'... Lemme know if yer eye starts to feel any worse." Casey looked aside, awkwardly rubbing at the back of his neck. Even if Taylor had little reason to trust him, it was clear Casey's concern was genuine. He and his own friends were used to roughing each other up, but crippling injuries were always something to worry about, especially after one of his old friends lost an eye. Even if Taylor only had a minor bruise, Casey didn't know how much punishment the kid could normally take, so his concern here was no different.
"...Got any place in mind where we can talk?" He looked back at Taylor. "'Cause I'm gonna be honest: I don't wanna be chattin' here out in front of the school with people thinkin' I'm tryin' to extort ya for... lunch money or whatever. S'not a good look." Casey shoved his hands in his pockets, glancing aside again. Someone like him just being there probably looked suspicious, and he absolutely did not want to give people the wrong idea. "I don't wanna go draggin' ya to somewhere ya don't wanna be, either." He added. The least he could do was let the kid pick some place he thought was safe.
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Post by Yuki on Jan 15, 2021 16:36:24 GMT -8
Taylor blinked and nodded when Casey took off and started talking to a ice cream vender, watching as the vender gave Casey a bag of ice and came back. "Thanks." Taylor said as he took the bag of ice and placed it on his eye, the cold made him flinch at first but he held it over his eye. " Am I really going to do this? Talk with Casey about my problems? Agh...." Taylor thought to himself. He mostly kept all his troubles to himself... He only told his friends about John because he had gone missing and had to tell the truth.. But he never really told anyone about the bullying he has suffered. He kept it a secret from everyone really.. Not wanting to worry his family or friends. But here he was now about to talk to Casey who was pretty much a stranger he has only met only twice. But they both did have something in common.. They both had dealt with John.
When Casey spoke about a place to chat Taylor looked at him and nodded, yeah staying here would not be a good idea.. It would be bad if a teacher saw Casey and would most likely cause a scene. " I guess we can go to the McDonald's that is near by." Taylor suggested, it was close by and a public place so it should be fine. Or so Taylor hoped that is.. After Sean had popped up on him in a movie theater he was starting to think the stay in crowded public places rule may not be as effective as he hoped.
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Post by Lepa on Jan 15, 2021 20:16:19 GMT -8
"Fine by me," Casey shrugged. "Let's go."
Once they made their way there, Casey ended up buying a pair of drinks and a small order of fries and nuggets. He looked about and eventually seated himself in a small corner, placing the tray of food down. He grabbed a french fry, popped it in his mouth, then pushed the tray closer to Taylor's side, encouraging him to take his share.
"...Sorry. This is probably weird for ya, huh." He glanced down, sipping at his iced tea. "But I guess... Hm." He frowned and leaned back in his seat, trying to put his thoughts together. He ran through Taylor's reasoning again. "Okay. You say you don't wanna hurt no one, so... yer sayin' you're okay with others beatin' you up to avoid that." He furrowed his brow. "Personally, I don't think that's any way to live." He paused. "I mean, I can see we have, uh... different... upbringings... but..." His expression softened, though it remained serious. "Ya gotta think of the big picture." He shoved another fry in his mouth.
"You said... he... got you twice, yeah?" Casey hesitated, speaking carefully. He'd been referring to the doctor and Taylor's kidnapping, but he wasn't about to say that out loud. "I hate to say it, and I don't mean to scare ya, but... if you can't defend yerself against kids yer age, how can ya expect to defend yerself against people like him?" He then lowered his voice. "I mean, you even got a leg up on most folk with them powers of yers." He frowned, though it seemed to be one of concern this time.
"I guess my question is... why're ya so afraid of fightin' back?"
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Post by Yuki on Jan 15, 2021 21:23:34 GMT -8
Taylor followed after Casey trying to make himself relax as he walked, would not do to be so tense and someone think Casey was taking him somewhere against his will or something. When they entered the building, Taylor waited for Casey as he ordered some food and followed him over to a corner of the dining room sitting down across from Casey. Maan this was not how he expected his day to go.. He glanced out the window next him before looking back at Casey as he started to speak. Taylor just meekly nodded when Casey spoke about how he rather get beat up then hurt others.
"Personally, I don't think that's any way to live."
Taylor just looked down at the table, he agreed with that.. But what else could he do? He was dammed if he did and dammed if he didn't..
"You said... he... got you twice, yeah?"
Taylor's eyes grew wide and he tensed up, he was not expecting John to be brought up.
"I hate to say it, and I don't mean to scare ya, but... if you can't defend yerself against kids yer age, how can ya expect to defend yerself against people like him?" "I mean, you even got a leg up on most folk with them powers of yers."
" School bullies are a different matter then him..." Taylor replied quickly. He was more willing to fight back when it came to that man and his goons.
"I guess my question is... why're ya so afraid of fightin' back?"
A dark shadow crossed his face again as he stared at the table, this was a story only a few knew.. One was his sister Anna.. The other was Kit.
" It was back when I first used my powers in front of people.. I was hanging out with my former best friend Brandon and a few other friends.. When some school bullies came and started to harass us.. They grabbed Brandon and where gonna hit him., In a panic I blasted the bullies with wind sending them flying, sadly along with Brandon and a few of our other friends... The... The way Brandon and the others looked at me..." Taylor said as tears started to form in his eyes. " I accidentally hurt Brandon.. And I also injured the bullies.. They started calling me a freak.. And soon after Brandon stopped talking to me as well as the others.. After that the bullies started coming after me for revenge.." Taylor said through his tears and did his best to wipe them away.
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Post by Lepa on Jan 15, 2021 21:55:51 GMT -8
Ah, shoot.
"...Sorry to hear that." Casey cast his gaze down at the table, waiting for Taylor to finish letting his emotions out. The best he could do was push some napkins closer to him, but other than that, he couldn't quite think of what to say. He was never quite good at dealing with this emotional stuff. Casey didn't even really have a way of relating to the kid; he'd gotten his own powers because his friends encouraged him to, and they were all the more closer after the fact. He considered bringing up that maybe this Brandon kid was never his friend at all, but he decided against it. It was already awkward enough trying to console him, and he didn't want to make it worse.
"...Even still," he tried to start again. "I get it. Kids at school are definitely a different sort... but I still think my point stands." He glanced out the window for a moment, hoping Taylor would calm down a bit. "From what I'm understandin', it sounds like ya don't wanna spook more folks with what you can do, but... does everyone who knows about yer powers act like that towards ya?" He spared the kid another glance, then turned back to the window. "'Cause if they do, then why worry about what they think? What do ya got left to lose from fighting back?"
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Post by Yuki on Jan 16, 2021 16:39:39 GMT -8
It hurt to talk about that moment in time because it was the very first time in his life he felt utterly alone.. And broken after people he trusted turned their backs on him... And for the longest time he was alone.. With no one to turn to. So he became withdrawn and kept to himself and just tried to fade into the background more or less. It was the darkest time in life. That was till someone had reached his out out to him.
Taylor then started to force himself to calm down, his crying was just making things awkward. Taylor took a few slow deep breaths and exhaling to calm down. Once he had his emotions in check again he waited for Casey to continue.
"From what I'm understandin', it sounds like ya don't wanna spook more folks with what you can do, but... does everyone who knows about yer powers act like that towards ya?""'Cause if they do, then why worry about what they think? What do ya got left to lose from fighting back?"
Taylor gave a bit of a sigh and looked away again, "No.. They don't.. I.. I have made new friends since then.. Toshiro Reizo.. Was the first to reach out to me.. Being a half kitsune made him a bit of a outcast so we connected. After that I met Sarah, then Kit who is a kitsune. Then... The attack on the school happened.." Taylor stopped talking as a sad expression form on his face. It was the scariest and saddest day of his life.. "I'm not much of a fighter.. I rather not fight at all.. If it where not for Sarah taking charge that day.. More people could have... Died...." Taylor said in a soft tone. " Those guys where right ya know... If you and Jade would not have jumped in at the mall.. I.. I would have lost.. I'm.. I'm just so weak and useless...." Taylor said with a defeated sigh and he stared out the window.
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Post by Lepa on Jan 16, 2021 21:25:58 GMT -8
Well... Good. It was good to know he did still have friends, but...
"Attack on whut now?" Casey fully turned his attention back to Taylor. He'd heard what he said and had only repeated him out of confused disbelief. He paused as he recalled the news about it. "...Oh. Oh sh*t." His brows raised and eyes widened. "Sh*t. Okay, yeah, I know what yer talkin' about..." He folded his arms again. "I... damn. I remember hearin' 'bout that. My bud wasn't working that day. ...Wait." He straightened himself up in realization. "Wait, wait, wait, so you were actually there?!" He'd tried to keep his voice down, but his surprise was clear. "Kid..." He started, then corrected himself. "No, Taylor... Taylor, holy sh*t, that's serious. I mean, you don't need me to tell ya that, but... goddamn." He leaned forward on the table, pressing his hand to his forehead. And here he thought the doctor was the worst of Taylor's problems.
"I'm not much of a fighter.. I rather not fight at all.. If it were not for Sarah taking charge that day.. More people could have... Died...."
Casey let out a sigh of his own. "...I don't think there's any avoidin' it anymore, then. After hearin' all of this, I think ya have to learn how to fight. Otherwise, if ya keep showin' weakness, people are gonna just keep taking advantage of it." He grimaced, recalling the days when he first ran away from home. "Trust me on that much." He sat up, then leaned back in his seat.
"Those guys were right ya know... If you and Jade would not have jumped in at the mall.. I.. I would have lost.. I'm.. I'm just so weak and useless...."
"Then yer gonna have to prove 'em wrong." Casey grasped his chin in thought. "...I know it's easier said than done, but ya can't just sit 'round feelin' sorry for yerself. Either ya take action, or ya don't, and ya hafta live with that decision. It sounds like yer problem is ya wanna do both, but ya just can't have it both ways." He folded his arms again. "...Ya need to learn how to defend yerself, Taylor. Hell, you said it yerself: many other folks coulda died that day if this Sarah chick hadn't acted." He frowned. "And that includes you." He paused, letting his last statement sink in. "I ain't sayin' you can't rely on yer friends; I count on my buddies all the time, but it ain't their job to babysit me." He gave a serious stare. "I guess what I'm sayin' is, there ain't always gonna be a Sarah or a Calhoun to save ya when ya get in trouble. In the end, you're the only person you can really rely on to protect yerself."
He paused, then shook his head.
"...Sorry. Didn't mean to get all... preachy there." He scratched at his head awkwardly. "I'm probably just some weird thug to ya, huh. I guess it's just..." He frowned. "I ain't never met anyone else who's... gotten away from that man before. Like, there's some kinda hope knowin' I ain't the only one." He shrugged. "So it just don't sit right with me that you still gotta deal with several other shades of bullsh*t after all of... his."
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Post by Yuki on Jan 17, 2021 11:29:45 GMT -8
"Wait, wait, wait, so you were actually there?!"
Taylor soon realized he may have said to much.. The attack on the school is not really something to just casually bring up and talk about. Taylor gave a nod in response. Well now Casey knows he was dealing with more then just John.. He was a target of the templars too.
"Y-yeah.... At Sarah's signal I blasted the templars to the far side of the gym and she used her ice powers to freeze them there so everyone could get away.. Of course though the templars where able to get out a short time later and chased us down.." Taylor said meekly. However more people did join the fight, Kit ,Fane, Alexander and Amara. If they had not jumped in He and Sarah would have been over powered. Taji had not joined the fight becuse she was the main target so he and Sarah had kept the Templar's attention so she could slip away.
"...I don't think there's any avoidin' it anymore, then. After hearin' all of this, I think ya have to learn how to fight. Otherwise, if ya keep showin' weakness, people are gonna just keep taking advantage of it."
Taylor winced at those words, he knew just how true it was.. Its why he was still being bullied even though he had helped save the school that day. He had been lying to himself that they where just jealous.. No they sensed weakness and went for it. He knows he should have asked the others to help him train as a better fighter.. But they also had a lot on their plates and did not wanna bother them.
Casey then went on a long speechy rant, Taylor looked at him as he said those things. He was right.. Taylor could not just keep relaying on his friends.. He would have to stand on his own two feet and pull his weight in a battle. Becuse there will be a time sooner or later he wont have his friends to fall back on.
"...Sorry. Didn't mean to get all... preachy there." "I'm probably just some weird thug to ya, huh. I guess it's just..." "I ain't never met anyone else who's... gotten away from that man before. Like, there's some kinda hope knowin' I ain't the only one." "So it just don't sit right with me that you still gotta deal with several other shades of bullsh*t after all of... his."
Taylor looked back down at the table as he thought about everything that has happened and everything Casey had just said. Taylor then took a deep breath and exhaled as he then looked back at Casey.
"C..Can you help me Calhoun?" Taylor asked meekly. He had to get stronger... Not just for his sake but for everyone around him, his friends, his family. How did he even hope to keep his little sisters safe when could not even keep himself safe?
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