|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:33 pm
Jasmine and her mother, Nancy, had arrived to the United States three months ago. Despite the huge amount of stress and culture shock the move had caused, her great aunt's welcome had been embracing. Perhaps the favoritism was toward Nancy, but there was a home for her. Nancy had had the surgery that she needed, paid without strings or reservation by her aunt, and seemed to be doing well. Jasmine may not have been entirely used to her new environment, but she at least had a sort of routine down. There was even a girl a few years older than her in the house that had been consistently kind to her.
Jasmine's aunt called her to her room one day. There waiting with her was a man who appeared to be in his thirties. He was professionally dressed, with added dark sun glasses. He had a no-nonsense air about him, but when Jasmine entered he smiled at her. He stood to shake her head as she came in.
"Jasmine, this is Charles. I've told him about your problem, with your voice. He said he could help."
Charles nodded, sitting back down, "It's good to meet you, Jasmine." Despite his professional demeanor, there was nothing condescending or frightening about Charles. He was not here to judge her.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:55 pm
"Jasmine, I need to wash that shirt!" Said the old Southern washing lady of the Boarding House.
The silent girl stared at the maid with anger, showing her a sheet of paper after writing a message. "But I'm going to the theater!"
"I don't care where you're going, that thing is filthy!" She then shoved Jasmine into a nearby empty room with a tattered nightgown. "Now change!"
The girl let out a huff, balling the gown tightly in frustration. "Well, that ruins my plans." Thought Jasmine, rolling her eyes. She had made a habit of going to watch plays at the old theater with her new friend at the house so she wouldn't be bored or be stuck with people who would talk consistantly throughout a movie to absoloutly no one. The girl had always felt that plays held a much more interesting plot than a movie, even though they both combined could never defeat a book in interesting originality and uniqueness- which she adored.
Jasmine shred of her current clothing, putting on the tattered old gown. She walked into the hallway where the grumpy washing lady awaited her.
"Well?"
She stuck her hand out to the lady, her dirty clothes in the hand. The washing woman smiled triumphantly, snatching the clothes from the child. "Now just stay here until I finish."
Jasmine stared at the old gown in disgust. It looked as if they had been fed to a moth farm, many tears and holes graced most of the bottom- which was at knee-length due to her height.
"Jasmine?"
The silent girl turned. "Aunt Mary-Anne?" To Jasmine, she sounded excited, like some great news had found it's way to the old Aunt. She walked to her room, carrying the notebook she had used to whine to the washing lady. When she reached the room, she noticed a complete stranger. Oh, it was about her voice again. The man's demeanor seemed out of place for the country-styled boarding house- his serious posture over the sensual drapes and paintings of the dainty room that made her smile.
She accepted his hand, returning the shake that he had given her. Jasmine then took her own seat on the small bed, staring at the man curiously. Turning to her notebook, she scribbled a reply. "Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Charles."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:26 pm
Charles took off his glasses and looked at the noteboard and then back at Jasmine. He smiled at her. "I can imagine this noteboard must be quite inconvient for you, no?"
He waited for her to confirm that before he continued. "Your aunt has called me about the trouble you have with your voice and I've come here to help. You see, I am part of an agency that helps young evolveds such as yourself to deal with their powers. Would you like that?" He smiled at her, patiently waiting for her to scribble down her questions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:41 pm
Jasmine smiled after his question before returning to the paper. "Not all that much, Mr. Charles, I love writing." She turned the answer to him and listened to him speak again.
When he mentioned that Aunt Mary-Anne was to blame, she shot a curious glance. Was it Jasmine the one with trouble communicating or was it her having trouble with having to talk to someone through writing? Aunt Mary-Anne had always been a chatterbox, she had noticed through the woman's constant chattering to the customers, who only wanted to hear that they could go to their room. So not having any vocal input might have been difficult.
Mary-Anne sensed Jasmine's stare, stepping back and turning away from Jasmine's eyes.
She turned back the book, writing something else. "... But I'm guessing most of the problem is the reaction I get with using it in the first place."
Hearing the rest of his words, she finished another sentance. "An agency? For evolveds?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:00 pm
"You can not speak at all?" Charles asked. "I'm so sorry, that must be so hard for you."
He pointed at the second question and nodded. "That's correct. Our agency trains young evolveds so they know how to deal with their powers. Some of our more succesfull trainees have gone on to become the superheroes of the United States. Perhaps you have heard of them? Flashcharge, Darebone, Photon, to name a few. Our trainers are quite skilled in what they do and I'm sure they'd be quite pleased to help you to the best of their ability."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:29 pm
Jasmine sighed at his question, moving slowly over the page. "Not without activating my powers, at least. You don't have to be sorry, though." The silent girl turned the sheet back to him.
When Charles told her what trainees had done, she shivered. A... Hero? No, Jasmine didn't have the guts to do that... Did she? She turned back to the book. "Wow, it sounds very prestigeous..." The girl turned back to her aunt, who had placed herself next to her. She still looked a little embarrassed, but she had made eye contact with her niece.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:54 pm
Charles chuckled at her response and shook his head. "Not to worry, Jasmine. Those kind of paths are only for those that want them. Our main objective will be to get you to be able to comfortably use your abilities in such a way you will have a good control over them. We have helped quite a few young evolveds already and they have all turned out fine. Only the very minority chooses to remain employed with the government." Charles smiled kindly at her.
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:04 pm
"Maybe..." The silent girl thought excitedly, "Maybe I might be one of those few..." She returned his smile- even if she ended up not being a hero, the thought of being able to control her voice was as sweet as honeydew.
She turned back to her notebook, jotting down her question as she thought of one thing that might worry her. "Will I go somewhere far for this? And if so, how long? My mother might get worried..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:32 am
Charles chuckled, noticing her excitement, but choosing not to say anything. He peered down at her questions and nodded thoughtfully. "We have a training center, located in the New York sub-urbs. It will require a bit of travel but shouldn't be too far away from you to travel regularly to, shouldn't it?" he smiled. "I do not intend to remove you from a trusted environment unless there is something wrong, in which case I will naturally arrange something for you."
He thought for a moment, having forgotten something. "Hm... what else... oh yes! You have not yet started going to school here yet, haven't you? I would like to suggest one of our own high schools, which consist of a mixed evolved and human population. We offer extra-curricular classes regarding power management, which are given in our training facilities, but I feel it would help you get in touch with others your age that know what you're going through. It might help to make it a bit easier for you," he explained kindly, still smiling at her. "You are, of course, in no way obligated to do this. I am merely offering you a possibility," he winked. Charles then waited patiently for her to write down any other questions she might have.
((Er, I know you're located in New York, but I have no idea where or what or how big New York is. There are two training centers. One in the city center and one on the edge, where there's space to blow stuff up. xD Charles wants her to go to the latter one.
As for the school: it's not a boarding school with living quarters since her home situation is stable enough. So she'd just be going there every day, just like you regularly would. Heh.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:36 pm
Not far... She could go home every day? Jasmine's smile only grew when she heard it, looking back to Aunt Mary-Anne with a sense of forgiveness- and then some. She could get her voice controlled in a class and still be able to go to the theater with her friend and check on her mother, who had only needed to go on eye-checkups every now and then- which was why she was not at the house at the moment. The silent girl turned back to her notebook with joyous haste. "Oh, that's very good, then."
Hearing the next question made her shiver. She had never really liked school- but it was not a regular loathing that was ordinary of students, but Jasmine had a phobia of them, a pasttime that almost made her fail for the year three times in a row. Maybe an integrated school would put her more at ease. She turned back to her notebook, still happy but slower than the last time. "No, I haven't, and are you kidding! I'd be happy to go!"
It wasn't until then that she remembered a very important question, which was wierdly asked by her aunt before she could think of her next action.
"This doesn't cost anything, does it?"
((Don't worry, me neither. XD To make it a shorter walk, let's just say the latter is the easiest one to get to. xB))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:23 am
Charles nodded, very pleased at Jasmine and smiled at her. "I am glad you will."
He looked up at Mary-Anne when she asked that question and shook his head. "It will not cost you anything extra than what you would normally pay in regards to schoolbooks and those type of things. Will you be able to manage?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:46 am
"Oh, that won't be a problem, sir." Mary-Anne gave the man a grin, patting Jasmine's head. "The entire reason she's here is because I make a much better income than her mother, Nancy."
Jasmine let out a huff, adjusting her hair back to normal. Her eyes shifted back to the words on her notebook where her half of the conversation was kept. Maybe she would never have to use it again? Would she become a chatterbox like Aunt Mary-Anne? Would she be a hero "I guess I'll find out." She mused firmly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
