|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:17 pm
Hartley Rathaway "Hey, Teddy." Hartley poked him in the ribs as they headed over to the Log Flume. "Being melodramatic about every little thing is my gimmick. If you don't stop, I'll sue you for gimmick infringement."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:24 pm
If Hartley was a good friend, right now would probably be where he'd reassure Teddy that he could depend on him, and that he'd always be there for Teddy if he wanted to talk.
But Hartley wasn't a particularly good friend, or rather he wasn't very good at BEING a friend, being relatively inexperienced in the field. So he just sort of nodded.
"No, you probably shouldn't. I have this...uh, inner ear thing." Which meant, I have about two million dollars' worth of experimental technology connecting my brain to my ears.
"Yeah you know, I've never really liked Billy." Okay, that was sort of a lie, because Billy had bent over backwards to try to be a friend to Hartley. Which Hartley was also inexperienced with and had no idea how to react to except to suspect vaguely that Billy was always trying to entrap him somehow.
And besides, in a breakup, you were supposed to always badmouth the other guy to the one you stayed friends with, right? Billy was the reason Teddy spent most of the time Hartley knew him glaring at him disapprovingly (in Hartley's view of things, anyways). "He was totally wrong for you, and if I knew anyone else who was gay, I'd totally hypnotize them into dating you instead."
Smooth, Hartley.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:27 pm
Away in an inconspicuous corner of the diner, Billy sat in the furthest booth with his hands on the table. He cast sidelong glances across the floor to the tables where the kids from his school sat and were laughing and seemingly having a grand time.
"Don't you want to join them?"
Billy stared hard at the gathering and sighed.
"I shouldn't have left Teddy like that. He ... he seemed concerned. Leaving like we did, he might think... he might not understand..."
"Oh dear Billy, of course he wouldn't understand. They never truly understand our kind."
"Our kind?"
"You know, mages. magicians. Witches. We never have been understood by simple mortal minds."
"Teddy isn't a..."
"Oh, he is. Mutant, metahuman, the term doesn't matter. They're still sad little mortals. Narrow minded. Look at what their kind did to our own in Europe and Salem a few hundred years ago."
"That was just fear and ignorance. People are more accepting. They accept magic at school..."
"Do they? Even at a school such as that, the student mages are looked at as different. Metas and mutants, their powers have limits. Ours don't, Billy. And they know that. The students are afraid of my brother and Miss Harkness, and rightfully so. And they're afraid of you."
"Me?"
"Teddy himself confirmed it. He's afraid the feelings he had, or has, for you were induced by magic. He doesn't trust you."
Billy's hands found the few napkins on the table in front of him and he gripped them, crumpling them in his small grip.
"I know. He probably told his friends and they probably spread it around the entire school..."
"And that's why you don't think you can go to them?"
Billy looked downward and nodded silently.
"It's just as well Billy. You have me. Other than that, you really only need to make nice with one student if you hope to gain us the freedom we so richly deserve."
"One student? ... Who?"
"One you've already started to befriend. He has the key, but isn't aware. Hartley Rathaway."
**********
Jughead stepped up to the Hero High kids' tables, casting glances behind him with a weirded out expression on his face. He looked to Chris and Wally and the rest and shrugged.
"Strange little fella. Get all kinds in here." Jetting a thumb back to indicate Billy who was sitting at his booth alone, and ... talking to himself?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:08 pm
There was an uneasy pause, and Teddy looked away from Hartley because it was just easier. He didn't really want to think about someone having to have a spell cast on them so he could have a boyfriend.
All of this talk made him feel like he'd be better off single.
Then again, it could work. Look at Wallace and Hartley - they functioned. Which blew his mind because Hartley was obviously not overflowing with social graces. "Eh, I'm not really looking. Something will crop up eventually." Well, he hoped it would.
Teddy led them into a teacup and plopped down, waiting for the ride to begin. "And could you guys not make out on this one? The ferris wheel was pretty awkward."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:12 pm
"Yeah, you know, magicians-hang on." Wally put up a finger to silence Jughead as his phone rang.
"Go for Wally. Oh, hey E. Friday? Sure. Your place or mine?" Wally looked over the phone and gave everyone a thumbs up and a salacious nod.
The salacious nod was to inform everyone he was on the phone with a girl, or as Wally had taken to calling them, a 'lay-day.'
"Okay, yeah, I can see your point. Lava falls and death pits are not really my thing. We'll do dinner, dancing and whatever, kay? Cool. See you the- huh?"
Wally looked around while on the phone. He saw Billy in a corner booth being all weird and emo.
"Yeah, he is here. Word, that was cool. Was that a magic 'find-a-wizard-dude' spell or something? No? Well then how did you-" Wally paused again.
"All right, yeah. I didn't hear that from you. You can't tell over the phone, but I'm totally winking right now. Yup. All right. See you on Friday, E."
Wally hung up his cell phone and turned back to the other kids in his group.
"Sorry 'bout that. Sometimes you just can't keep the lay-days off, knowhwatImean?!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:33 pm
*Chris nodded towards Billy.*
I'm worried about him. Ever since Teddy dumped him, he's been weird but the other day was really strange. He talked like Talon and, I assume, Razor did. He said his friends weren't a help...that they were a hindrance. An obstacle to be removed.
*Chris brooded for a second.*
The source of my issues was my amulet. I have no idea what's affecting Billy. And I know jack about magic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:59 pm
"Hormones." Wally replied, his mouth full of burger. "The source of all teenaged angst. And most teenaged fun."
He swallowed.
"Dude, you guys wanna go-scuse me." Wally was cut off again when his phone rang. He flipped it open while taking a swig of cola. "Go for Wally!"
He swallowed. "Aw, hey, C. How're things with your-oh, word?" He paused while listening. "When is that? Next Saturday? You know, let me check and get back to you, okay?"
Pause.
"I don't know if I own a suit 'cool enough to be buried in.' I'll have to check. All right. Talk to you later. Bye." Wally hung up and gave his pals another 'lay-days' sort of look.
"Sorry 'bout that, sometimes I get spread a little thin."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:21 pm
"Umm Right..." That was twice he'd been interrupted by his phone. Dani was starting to get a little irritated with Wally, and his lay-day looks he's been giving them... She could not believe Wally was mass dating like this... He always had a craving for attention. but this was ridiculous! How would he ever get to know the girls he's dating if he was constantly being interrupted?
Dani sighed. She'd have to find a way to help him settle down... Not like anything serious of course. Just something a bit more steady. That what this hyper active boy needed. Someone to focus on instead of being all over the place... now to find the right girl....
Her train of thoughts where being pulled off their tracks, with some questions regarding her kidnapping... The boys never did see The Darkness... Or his Annoying little imps... This could prove to be problematic if they ever caught on...
"Uh Umm Darkness... He's some creep Mobster guy... All he cared about was his money an didn't care who got hurt as long as he got what he wanted...What a jerk! And he's got little Imp things that follow him around and do what he wants and stuff... But he's gone I hope."
She nodded over to Billy, looked so lost.
"What about Billy? Has he lost his marbles? Maybe one of us should go over there and talk to him..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:40 pm
Cassie was still looking out of the window.
" I'm not so sure that's such a good idea. I get the feeling Billy doesn't want to 'talk' to any of us. He's hurt and he'll do anything to feel better.... given he's relationship to magic and the fact that he's still a young and inexperienced... well I'm sure someone would see him as vulnerable. I think we should take it up with the magic club. I don't know much about magic but I do know it can be dangerous."
Cassie didn't want to say much else. But she was thinking how Ares saw though to her vulnerable and insecure. She remembered how he preyed off of it... but isn't that always the way it happens? Cassie looked over at Chris... and smiled... Wally was acting girl-crazy and it seemed that Dani didn't even trust her enough to tell her that she got kidnapped but at least she had her brother and Chris. She was sure whatever was going on with Wally and Dani would work themselves out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:54 pm
"I just didn't want it to seem like we are going behind his back or anything. Some people just need someone to listen..."
She wasn't an expert on magic. But maybe she knew a thing or two about relationships. She felt she could at least help him in that regard.
But maybe Cass was right. She glanced over to Billy. He was acting too wired even for Billy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:02 pm
*Chris noticed Cassie smiling at him and squeezed her knee under the table. It was nice that everyone was back together like this.*
Well, if we can't help Billy then Achilles is who we concentrate on. Now, Achilles, I think I know where we could find monsters. There's a hitch...we'd have to go on a weekend...and...it's far away. It's called the Savage Land.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:03 pm
" If you think talking to him will help ... go ahead. I just feel we might be in over our heads... I get a bad feeling from Billy lately."
Cassie pauses and taps the table a little... She looks over at Billy... did any of them really know what he was capable of?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:25 pm
"Savage land? Dude, I can already peg this one as a bad idea." Wally's phone beeped again. Seeing everyone's annoyed looks, he checked the ID and switched it off.
"No place that's fun and bro-dacious is named 'the Savage Land.'"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:28 pm
" Well, Wally what would you suggest?"
Cassie sipped on her milkshake. She knew Chris was just trying to help Achilles...Of course if Achilles really wanted to fight a monster Cassie was sure she could find a hydra or something... of course that kinda had the whole been there done that feel to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
