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 Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 1:09 am
Caelum knew that keeping things in was bad for you—his mother drilled this into his head time and time again because she didn't want him to grow up emotionally closeted like his father. Unfortunately, he just couldn't talk to his parents; despite their constant reassurances that he could come to them about anything, they put down his problems, and it hit hard because it just didn't seem worth it even when he wanted to. It got to a point it started to show not just via in gestures, but on his face. He walked about Knightside Elementary as if he were Atlas shouldering the world's problems. Mrs. Danjuma time and time again asking how he was doing and his reply was always the same, "I'm fine, ma'am. Can I go now?"
His teacher hadn't given up, though. She was a sweet woman and let her love show in more ways than one—only if the receiver was willing, of course. There was only so much she could do, but realizing Caelum wouldn't give in, she turned to the school head instead. A plan was made that day: If Caelum wasn't going to open up to any member of faculty, maybe he would open up to a brotherly figure? Knightside had realized that trying to contact his parents' on the matter came to no avail (they said they recognized nothing wrong), so instead, they sent him home with a permission slip that, knowing Fiora, his mother, would of course come back signed despite Caelum saying otherwise, and paired him up with his eponymous Big Brother.
No, it wasn't Conner, his biological one, but on in symbolic understanding only. Caelum wasn't too thrilled. So as Mrs. Danjuma walked him to the classroom where he was to meet the older male, he had his arms folded across his chest and wore a scowl as deep as the ocean is wide.
"Now, Cae, make sure you're on your best behavior," his teacher told him as she sorted through some paperwork. "Your Big Brother will be here any second."
"Yea, whatever," Caelum said in response. "I didn't even ask for this. Why are you making me do it?"
"Because your mood hasn't changed at all, dear," his teacher said.
"I didn't ask for your help either! This sucks!" He wished he could blast her in the face with a wave of cranberries.
"Now, now, Caelum, no need to get fussy," Mrs. Danjuma said. "We're just trying to make you comfortable, is all. I know it takes time, but sometimes there needs to be a leap in progress. This is that leap."
Caelum huffed and turned away. This really, really sucked.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 1:33 am
Etamin kicked a gelatinous mess of a youma, that he had blinded, one last time, and it had shriveled away to dust. He dusted off his hands and then looked at clocks in a clock store that just chimed 1:30 pm. "Oh no! Not again, not today. I'm gonna be late." He ran up to a building and jumped up the second roof and then jumped to 'Oblivion' as some normal people called it. Finally he arrived in an alleyway, a block away from Knightside Elementary School, with a nearby clock reading 1:42 pm; he had three minutes to get to the classroom, where his new "Little Brother" was to meet him. He powered down to Drew, and ran inside, asking directions as he went. Drew had got his behavior grade at Hillworth up to 92% - although it was dropping; dropping because of tardiness and absences that he couldn't explain - ones where he was fighting monsters as a Sailor Scout. The Headmaster was really wanting to transfer him to Meadowview or even Azure, but he couldn't without at least a 97% behavior grade, and his grade had already slipped too far for that. It was his homeroom teacher, Mr. Kaiko who had met with Mrs. Danjuma (at a teacher's meeting) who came up with the idea. Mrs. Danjuma had a student who was new here in town, and was... having problems adjusting, and felt like he couldn't trust anyone, but Mrs. Danjuma knew he was a good kid deep inside. Mr. Kaiko felt that Drew had been through the same, maybe worse, but was also a good kid. If Drew could reach him, two kids might be saved, and so would Drew's grade, and possible transfer. Drew slowed down as he reached the room. He walked in and smiled a small smile at Caelum. "You must be Caelum. I'm Drew."
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 1:44 am
Caelum was resolute with his choice not to engage this fella. He kept his red eyes steadied on his new Big Brother, but didn't say a word; tightening the knot of his arms across his chest and turning away with that scowl still worn on his face. It was Mrs. Danjuma who broke the unfriendly air with a warm welcome.
"Hello there, Drew," she said to him. "Mr. Kaiko has told me so much about you, it's a real pleasure. Cae here is a little standoffish right now, but that's because he's just shy. C'mon Caelum, say hello."
The pink-haired boy exchanged glances between his teacher and Drew. Eventually, he said with some hesitation. "...Hi."
"Well then, that's a good start! Now, I'm going to leave you two to talk, all right? Drew," she turned to him, "if there is anything you need, I'll be in the office across the hall. I hope both of you have a pleasant time." And with that, she left.
Caelum didn't look at Drew again. Instead, he kept his eyes concentrated on the adjacent wall as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. He wasn't going to give Drew a chance; if he couldn't tell his parents anything, why should be tell a stranger?
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 2:10 am
Drew sat down for a moment. He didn't know what to say at first. After a few minutes of quietness, he decided to tell Caelum his own story. "Caelum - may I call you Caelum?" He waited for an answer. "I hear you left friends behind when you moved... atch atch, let me speak." He refused to be interrupted. "I bet right now you are feeling very lonely behind those feelings of frustration and anger. I moved here in May of last year. But I had no friends to leave behind. We moved here from Maryland. Before that we lived in Texas, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Montana, and Tennessee. All within the last three years of my life. Why, cause like you I hid my feelings. I wouldn't make new friends after losing the ones in Tennessee. I was determined somehow to stay lonely. Because of what happened in Tennessee - I had so much pent up anger, rage and grief that I had to release it someway - I ended acting out. I got expelled from 7 schools in 3 years, not to mention lost all my friends; my parents were ready to ship me off to a permanent Juvenile Detention Center if I got expelled from Hillworth. Fortunately, I got some sense sense knocked into me, and got some good friends, and I'm about to pull myself out of Hillworth. But you my friend, everyone is worried that you are starting on the same path I was on. That is why we are here today. People care about you."
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 2:31 am
Caelum opened his mouth to speak, but when Drew quieted him, he puffed out his cheeks in annoyance and turned away again. He half-listened to the older male, his hands gripping the underside of his chair, as he tried to reason where to draw the fine line regarding Drew. He wasn't yet a friend and he was challenging the matter of foe. Caelum would make up his mind soon enough after his story.
His mind was still straddling the tipping point between one or the other even after Drew had finished, but Caelum didn't relent at his company like before. Instead, he had managed to capture the boy's undivided attention—a feat in and of itself, especially with how indifferent he would become about things that didn't concern or interest him. His hands, now moved to his lap, balled into fists and he broke his glance from Drew and dropped it to his knees.
"That's sucks," Caelum said to him. "I mean, really, really sucks. My problems don't even add up to stuff like that. I know people's sufferings aren't a competition, but it's still rough to go through stuff like that." His lip curled into a frown at Drew's last sentence though. "But care? No, people don't care." He grit his teeth and looked away again. "Mrs. Danjuma cares because she wants to, but she doesn't even know me. To her, I'm the kid that just screws up everyday in class. And my parents? They really don't care—they just use me to get back at each other. Me and Conner. They argue all of the time and... and..." He squeezed his eyes shut hard to prevent the tears. "They're gonna divorce. I mean, they already have. They've said so, but they're just staying together because of me and my brother. They hate each others guts, but keep arguing and then acting like nothing's wrong. They really don't care. Not about anything."
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 2:48 am
Drew stood and put a hand on Caelum's shoulder. "We are two alike. Both of our families are torn apart. I did not tell you the whole story." He sighed. "I only lost my friends in Tennessee, because... because I pushed them away. "You see.." Now Drew was on the verge of tears. "It was my identical twin sister that was lost - she vanished during an emergency plane landing in Tennessee. Her body was never recovered. The police dubbed it a cold case nearly two years ago. I lost my mind with grief - that's when I started acting out. When my parents realized that not only had they lost Dria, but they could lose me as well, they had to send our younger sister Dani to live with relatives so that they could help me. That was three years ago. What keeps me right now is the search for answers - I just want to know, is she alive or dead? No twin should go through that for 3 and a half years. My Mom survives by telling herself Dria is in a better place, and Dad is in Denial. Dani is still with Aunt Claudia." He took a deep breath, and softly he said, "I guess I need a Brother too. Can we be brothers? We will form a new family."
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 3:03 am
Caelum swallowed thickly. He couldn't fathom losing his brother. Sure, him and Conner weren't as thick as thieves, but they were still brothers. He was probably the only member of his family, currently, that he respected and could get along with without an argument brewing. The boy wasn't sure how to offer the other consolation; it was a situation he was still wrapping his head around, but he did the best he could. Reaching a hand over, he gave Drew's hand on his shoulder a squeeze, and nodded his head.
"I'd... I'd like that. I'd really like that. I don't think I can replace Dria. N-not that I want to, I mean, like... She'll always been your sister, but if I can, um, if I can help you out when you're sad, I'd like that too. Because you've helped me out right now and it's the best I can offer." The boy's lips curved into a small smile. "I'm only thirteen and I can't do much, but if there is anything I can help with finding your sister—anything—I really want to try. There has to be answers somewhere."
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 3:16 am
Drew smiled at the hand squeeze. "Thank you. And don't worry, no one will replace anyone. I'd appreciate the help." He sobered up after a minute, and was about to ask Caelum if he wished to do something, when he sneezed. A little bit dust, dust from the youma he dusted earlier, fell out of his braid and onto Caelum's hand on his shoulder. "Oh..uh would you look at that ... this place is awful dusty... they should clean more often." Drew commented rather panicky. Unoderi your choice for Caelum to pick up clue or no smile
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 3:49 am
Caelum rubbed the dust between his hands momentarily before subtly glancing around the room. He wasn't sure how old Knightside Elementary was, but the janitorial staff kept the place rather neat. There was some suspicion in his eyes when he finally dusted the fine remnants of the youma off his fingers, but he had a knowing suspicion at the same time. He'd dusted one or two of the chaos monsters while he was powered-up; seems there was more to Drew than what met the eye.
"Yea, they really should," Caelum said as nonchalantly as possible. "Parents would really complain, ahaha..."
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 10:01 am
"Well, what would you like to do now? A game of hoops is always fun, or we could play some board games. I've always loved the arts." Then a look of mischief came to his eyes. "Maybe, if you mind a little mischief - no, I should be a role model and not get you into trouble. He hee." He took a formal air. "As your big brother, I should be setting an example..." Unoderi Caelum can hit him here if he likes or whatever he would like smile
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 10:21 am
Caelum rubbed the last residual bit of dust on his uniform pants before flashing his new brother a mischievous grin. Of course, as a young boy, any amount of chaos caused was fun, but because Drew was meant to set a good example, Caelum didn't take him up on his offer. Instead, he gave him a playful shove on his shoulder and stood up.
"I'm not picky," he said, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. "We can do whatever. As long as it isn't turning the school into a pile of bricks, as much fun as that sounds... How about a board game? My legs ache a bit and I'd rather take it easy." He didn't add it was from jumping across rooftops all yesterday evening as Sailor Cadmus, but it was best to leave that bit of information out.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 11:49 am
Drew laughed when Caelum shoved him, and when Caelum suggested that they play a board game, because his legs hurt, well Drew knew that feeling only too well. His own legs were hurting from the run here. He smiled. "Okay. Ever played Life?" He looked at for a minute. "You know, I have a Big Brother too.. not officially set up or related or anything. But he helped me out when I needed it too. His name is Demetrius Bell, Deme for short. He's in college. I'll have to introduce you. " Unoderi This has been fun, but I think we can wrap it up in the next couple of posts smile
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 11:55 am
Caelum nodded his head, trotting over to the small shelf where the myriad of games were haphazardly arranged. "Yep, I've played it before, but its been a while. Can't remember the last time I sat down and played a board game..." There wasn't much time in-between being standoffish from his classmates and being Sailor Cadmus.
When he sat back down in his seat and began to unpack the game, he said, "That's... really neat. So it kinda, like, goes down the line? Follows generations?" He hummed in thought. "Maybe I should pick up a Little Brother when I come of age too."
Sailor Hawk Sounds good! Feel free to do a small time skip to, like, after their game if you want. Caelum would be heading home by then, so we could end it there.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:04 pm
Drew thought for a minute. "I think it is just a coincidence, and Deme, was just there for me. But yeah you might be there for someone else. Actually there might be someone already." He paused. "I wonder if you could help me with something... my family is making arrangements for Dani to come home. She is 9 now. From what I've been told, she is very angry. She.. she doesn't fully understand what happened and won't listen. She thinks Dria pulled some crazy stunt and it messed me up- and that is why Mom and Dad sent her away - to punish her. She doesn't understand that Dria may be gone for good, and that is why I've been out of my mind with grief. She blames us for losing time with Mom and Dad." He sighed. "I'm wondering, if when she returns, you might talk to her?"
The game was finally set up.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 12:20 pm
Caelum twiddled the peg he held between forefinger and thumb before fixing it into the spot on the board. After spinning the wheel, he listened to Drew, and then moved his piece along. "Sure, I can do that," the pink-haired boy said with a nod. "I mean, I don't know if she'll listen since its some tough stuff and all, but I can try."
Time persisted to a point Caelum felt their game together would never end. He got absorbed into it that, when he glanced up to the clock, he realized it was well passed his time to go home. Suddenly, he popped up from his seat, and grabbed at his backpack. "Oh, crap!" he cried aloud. "I-I don't mean to leave you like this, but my ma expects me home by now. She's gonna blow her lid if I'm not there for dinner. Um, t-thanks for today. I had fun and it means a lot you listened. Really." He smiled at Drew. "Can we meet again some time? It doesn't have to be soon or nothing, but just... to talk again. If its all right, I mean."
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