[IC] Camp Castaway

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
Cecilia managed to hear James' reference to a friend he knows. Unfortunately, a group of other campers were nearby, giving each other "small" demonstrations of their powers. One of them had just emitted a brilliant flash of light from their hands, a product of their photokinesis, to which the others cheered and laughed in their mirth. As a result, Cecilia didn't hear what would have been easily considered James talking to himself. But to her, he did look like he was saying something. "Hmm? A friend? You know someone here?" she asked, scooting a few inches closer to him to hopefully hear him over the other campers.

[LiegeLord]

@Mangrale

*The other campers would start to be coming around, him looking at each of them as he smiles. But he barely hears Cecilia as he looks at her, Neric speaking in his mind saying she asked if he knew someone at the camp already. With that James would bite his lower lip as he thinks, trying to be careful about how he approaches this kind of situation. If he showed her Neric, she might get scared and then everyone will notice. Then again, it may be able to help his case more for her to understand later on if she catches him talking to himself or his hand. Sighing as he responds to her question* "Yes, someone that is and isn't really here. I can show you if you promise to not tell anyone else?" *He tries to force a smile, nervous and scared about how she'll react if he does show her*

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
Cecilia seemed puzzled for a second as she looked down at her hands on her lap. This very likely has something to do with his power, probably something that she had not even begun to consider as being possible. She looked up at James again, a little more serious than before, her hands fidgeting somewhat. She'd certainly never forgive herself if she refused. She nodded, her affirmation following a moment after. "Yes, I-I won't tell anyone. I promise," she replied, attempting to mentally preparing herself.

[LiegeLord]

@Mangrale

*James nods, trying to get Neric to think on coming out for a moment. Then smiling and asking her to turn around and him as well, him sliding to be side by side with her. Mostly so the others can't see, not just so he can get close to her* "Sorry, didn't want the others to see if you can understand?" *Him nodding as he holds his hand with it's back up, him whispering gently so that only she can hear him* "Come on out Neric, she's a friend. Wanna say Hi?" *The wound on the back of his hand opening up just so slightly as she can see some type of dark cloud start to slowly come out, him looking at her* "Don't be scared, he wouldn't hurt a fly unless it tried to hurt me or my friends. That and he hasn't met many others before, you can consider yourself one of the few." *Him smiling softly as the cloud forms infront of them, soon taking on the form of a cat as it looks at both of them. A black being made up of the black cloud and some of it even seeping off of it. It's red eyes looking between them* "Say Hi Neric." *The cat looking at her, tilting it's head and not moving it's head in anyway as it speaks* "Hello Cecilia, pleasure to meet you."

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
Cecilia's mouth was agape as she beheld the dark being, not making a sound more due to being stunned than any promise to not endanger a secret. She turned to James only briefly in astonishment, her hand coming over her mouth as she turned back to Neric. It actually took her a good part of a minute to recall that said being had greeted her. "Ah, um... (swallows hurriedly)... H-hi... N-Neric," she managed, waving nervously at him, easily unnerved by even the entity's voice. She couldn't help but feel this way, although internally, she was hating herself for it.

[LiegeLord]

@Mangrale

"I can understand how you feel Cecilia, this isn't the first time someone saw me for the first time." *Neric would speak lightly and quietly so the others couldn't hear them, staying sitting down as James looks at her. Seeing her nervous as he thinks on what to say to maybe help her relax, looking at Neric and then back to her as he speaks up now* "He's been with me ever since I was born, he's always been my friend and hopefully he doesn't scare you too much. I can tell you right now he's very friendly and nice." *He could have said that much better, but given the circumstances. He had to say something right away to try and calm her. Him looking back at Neric and gently rubbing his head. The little, dark being cat would make a type of purring sound as it lets him. Like Neric was taking on a cat instinct for a moment, knowing James was trying to make a good image of them both. Tilting his head towards James's hand and closing his eyes* "See? He wouldn't do anything bad unless he had to defend someone." *James smiling the whole time as he looks back at Cecilia with the same smile*

[Mangrale]

Cecilia looked at James, something about his expression reassuring her. A tentative smile appeared on her face and she began to calm down. "I see," she started, feeling compelled to convince the two of them that she was going to be fine. "I'll be alright. I... may just need to take a long look at a wall and rethink everything," she joked to that end, noticeably more composed. She looked down at the Neric, clearly in thought. "Together since birth... I can't even imagine..." Cecilia muttered to herself wistfully. She then started to lightly and delicately rub the top of her right hand, appearing to raise it inexplicably before lowering it. Actually, she was considering petting Neric as well.

[LiegeLord]

@Mangrale

"I can understand, this is a lot to take in." *James would joke back as he smiles at her, pulling his hand away as Neric shakes his head. Blinking a couple times before he looks at them. James seeing her hand as he chuckles softly, never has he had a moment like this. Most of the time it was just to show someone to prove a point. But this was different, he knows that for a fact* "Wanna pet him? Might be weird feeling at first till he gets a feel for your touch, he's not used to anyone else touching him. But he won't bite, don't worry." *James said as he looks to them both, if she did wanna pet him it would be weird. It would feel like rough, grisly smoke, but after several seconds she can feel it changing. Slowly the feeling of fur along it's body, not like normal but it's the best it could do. But it's if she wanted to anyway*

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
"Oh?" Cecilia looked at James with a sense of surprise, as if given permission to touch a normally wild animal. "Well, if you... think it's okay..." she said, although, in a sense, it was as if she was addressing Neric as well, asking for his additional consent. For a second, Neric seemed less a cat-shaped being of dark clouds, and rather an embodiment of the unknown. One way or another, this was the moment in which Cecilia begins a new part of her life, open to the world of extreme possibility as never before. Now is just a matter of how she'll react when faced with it. She held her jittery right hand over her chest, closing her eyes. Be brave... she told herself, feeling her heart and hand calm themselves at least a little. Opening her eyes in a soft expression towards Neric, she lowered her hand to him, her wrist slowly rotating and palm gradually opening until the entity was presented with her fingers for his perusal.

[LiegeLord]

@Mangrale

*She could see that Neric was watching her, not trying to give off a bad vibe about the situation. Really, it was to see if she would or not. The moment she reaches her hand out to it, it would look like it was sniffing her hand. Soon either pushing it's head against her hand or letting her pet him. The rough feeling soon being taken over by a near soft fur like feeling, not exact but close. Him purring as he speaks* "Her hands are softer then yours James." *James shaking his head, smiling and trying to cover up his little blunder of letting his Void get to him. Neric purring softly still as James just sat there, forgetting he was side by side with her as he watched the two. It was nice to see someone react like she did to Neric, his sight usually made others panic. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye for just a second before looking back at Neric, softly smiling*

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
"They are, are they? Aw, thank you," Cecilia replied, expressing her gratitude in a minutely cutesy way. She worked her hand around and began scratching behind Neric's ears. The initial peculiar sensation giving way to familiar, soft fur, she turned her head to James the way one would after just accomplishing an amazing feat to make sure he saw it. She felt safe with him, and she had to acknowledge to herself that she certainly wouldn't even dream of interacting with anything like Neric if it wasn't for him. Eventually, Cecilia caught herself "looking" for perhaps a moment too long and abruptly turned her attention back to his Void, a warm, however embarrassed smile on her face, her right hand lowering and ending her petting session with some delicate scratches under his chin.

[LiegeLord]

@Mangrale

*James would look at her at this moment, smiling softly as she looks at him in the way she did. Soon looking away not too long after she does, sighing softly. Trying to cover up the slight blush on his cheeks as he looks at her giving Neric a quick scratching under the chin, the black cat lifting it's head for her with it's eyes closed still. Soon opening them once she was done, looking at her as it tilts her head* "I can see why James thought you were nice-" *James coughing a bit, stopping the Void from speaking as it looks at him. Then back to her. "Nevermind what I was saying, but I think it would be about time for me to go back. Wouldn't it James?" *James nodding as he holds his hand out so the wound is open to it* "That would be safest with people around, you've been out quite some time now." *The cat walking over to his hand as it falls into it's black cloud state, flowing to get back to his wound and make it's way into it. The wound closing up as he smiles at Cecilia, noting he is a bit embarrassed that Neric was about to say what it almost said to her* "Well, that was nice. I'm happy I showed you now."

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
Cecilia watched in awe of the process, albeit not to the same terrified degree as earlier. "Me too," Cecilia said sincerely in return, her eyes looking down at Jame's wound from which Neric spawned. "Hey, it doesn't... hurt, does it?" she asked with a sense of worry both for the possibility that it did, and also for the possibility that it was a touchy subject and she may have spoiled the moment by bringing it up.

[LiegeLord]

@Mangrale

*James would shake his head, looking at Cecilia. He wouldn't show it right away, but it felt nice she cared about if it hurt to let Neric out of not. Him thinking as he starts to give the two of them space, remembering he was pressed side by side with her to hide Neric from everyone. Not wanting her to feel uncomfortable* "Actually it doesn't hurt in the slightest, I mean when I was first getting used to him it was a tingling sensation. But I mostly got over it." *He would smile back at her, looking down as he smiles. Rubbing his slowly unblushing cheeks before looking back at her. Him trying to think on what else to talk about now as he looks back at the fire, then to her. He knew he already sapped up a good amount of her time, but he enjoyed it* "But nice to know you care to ask. Maybe you can tell me about your powers, even if it has to be after whatever is going on now. I would like to hear about it."

[arowne97]

James had slipped over to the firepit when everyone was distracted by the announcement earlier, and now was just relaxing beside it. He didn't need to go to his cabin yet. He didn't really have anything to unpack anyways. He looked around the camp as he sat there, before closing his eyes and concentrating on getting his body under control, as his form was still wavering and flickering slightly.

[Vampy]

Valencia pick up her suitcase by the bus and walked to her cabinet. Her roommate had already been there so she placed her case on the empty bed, Valencia didn't felt like unpacking, it will come when she feels like it.

Valencia took another lollipop out and trew the empty one in the bin next to the door and walked to the fire pit where all of the others are.

[KatherinWinter]

@Overlord24 @Bright_Ops @Vampy @arowne97@Mangrale

"We are glad that you are here. This will be a good summer for you all. Like we said before if there is something that you want to do let us know. We will have a schedule some days and special events on others. The schedule will be breakfast, arts and crafts, sports, lunch, wood skills, competition, supper, fire stories." the counselors said together.

[1Hawkeyes]

Helena nodded slowly as she listened to the schedule. It sounded pretty fun even though it didn't sound like anything was very power-oriented. She bet in her mind that many of the fire stories would include mishaps and accidents with their powers. She definitely had a couple stories to tell.

[LiegeLord]

@KatherinWinter

*Leaving Cecilia to her thoughts and seeing what she thought on the idea, James would turn his attention to the Counselors. Nodding as he understands what will be happening. He knows Neric would enjoy a competition, but there were other things that James would have fun with. Hopefully this would be a good summer, he already met someone really nice and that won't think of him as crazy if he talks to his hand. Which makes him think on if he would get to talk to Cecilia more during this time at camp. But as Neric put it before, 'The future is in constant motion'. He'll just have to wait, hope and see if she does talk to him more or not. Though the thought also ran through his head that she was only being nice to not be rude, that she is nervous around him now that he showed her. Pushing that thought aside as he looks at the other campers, noting who was going to be at the camp with them. Maybe get to know the others, see how they are like and such*

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
To James' answer to her question, Cecilia was most assuredly relieved. And although his commendation afterword was cause for her to frantically break eye contact in favor of her lap, it was his follow up suggestion that she pondered throughout the twins' breakdown of the camp schedule. Would he settle for her just explaining the best she could? What if she messes up and sounds ridiculous? What if she explains it perfectly or in depth and sound like an uncool nerd? What if he wants a demonstration? What is she going to do?! Throw a rock really far?! Through a tree?!

And that's on the basis that she even runs into him after today. And even then... with a power as remarkable as his and a companion as special as Neric, he's sure to make plenty of friends. A week from now, he would have probably performed his "demonstration" with nearly everyone here. She herself may just be the latest in a long line of girls he's amazed with his talent(s). Cecilia smiled thinly, knowing that she wasn't being fair to him. She shook her head, looking down at her bracelets, fiddling with them with her left hand. She still owes him a demonstration of her power, at least a small one, maybe with a set of playing cards... Naaaah! she joked, causing her to chuckle at herself.

She imagined that she'd think of something when the time came. For now, she recalled how she had zoned out during the counselors' announcement. Cecilia looked towards James, who seemed interested in meeting the other campers, and smiled. Getting up from the log, she walked over to a nearby bulletin board where the schedule is likely recorded.