[IC] Camp Castaway

[Sazama]

@DriveEMOut

Val cuts through the line ignoring the protest of some campers around her and grabs a plate before quickly retreating to find a seat. Only ones left open were near this boy who was surrounded by skeletal soldiers. She shrugged, she's met weirder people than him before and proceeds to plop in the seat across from him.
"Mind if I sit here? I'm just going to eat quickly and leave." Val looks around and twirls her fork in her hand before stabbing a piece of sausage, "I hate crowded places."

[DriveEMOut]

Jack looked up. He took a plate from one of the undead and started to eat. "I don't mind. I hate crowded people too." When he saw that she was looking at the undead, he blushed and sent them back to the underworld. "My name's Jack." He poked at his food. "You are?" He honestly hadn't made a friend since he left home.

@KimmiNinja

[Sazama]

@DriveEMOut

"Val. And you don't have to hide your undead guys, they seem cool." She stuffs some eggs into her mouth. She hasn't had any social interaction like this since... well ever. Everyone was always afraid of her, of the powers she had. But this place was different, everyone was like her. The same people that fear her would probably fear most of the campers, somehow it made her feel closer to everyone here. "So Jack, what made you want to come here?"

[Mistiel]

As Lin reached for a proper tray, the door to the outside opened once more and a cloudlike thing swirled in. Lin dropped the empty tray, startled, putting her half-covered fists up by her face in a defensive posture. She didn't relax her guard one bit even as the cloud was followed by a teenage guy who was hurriedly chasing the cloud. Lin sprang backward in surprise as the shadowy cloud coalesced into a squat, vaguely human-like shape with a smoky tail. The shape reached for a tray and Lin's mouth opened in a perfect "O".

Her brain almost didn't register the newcomer greeting Ivy and Kyle. When he turned to her, her brain blanked. ""You either must be new here or I didn't see you at all at the activities yesterday, regardless. The name's James, nice to meet you. And that's Neric, he's my Void." Lin nodded at him absently, still eyeing the...was that a monkey?...as it filled a plate like any human might. Finding her voice, "Is...is he from...he's not from around here, is he? Where...." she began. Recovering some of her composure, her voice abruptly resumed its normal cadence. "So uhh...Lord Neric, mind telling me where you're from? And maybe how many OTHER worlds there are apart from yours? Do I have to worry about being abducted?" She didn't realize how fast she was talking, though by Ivy's standards, she was probably still very understandable.

She slowly shook her head, tangly blond mane rippling as she did so. Picking up her tray from the floor, she tried to sedately load it with bacon, scrambled eggs, and three medium-sized pancakes. Her hand reached for a fork and she realized that her hand was actually shaking. Huh, Earth is not alone, the thought had been fluttering at the edge of her consciousness ever since she'd heard the boy's, what was his name, James's? cool explanation.

Her tray full, she turned back to James, still visibly shaken. Putting a smile on, "Sorry Jay....mes?" said she. She'd been about to leave it at "Jay" before her subconsciousness reminded her not to make up nicknames for people. Brushing a lock of her mane behind one ear, "That's an interesting power you have there! He doesn't...possess people, does he? Sorry, I've never met anyone else with powers before who wasnn't fictional and written inside a Marvel comic." The full-bodied laugh didn't do nearly enough to hide her nervousness.

[LiegeLord]

@Mistiel

*James would tilt his head, a little confused at first when she spoke. It wasn't the lord Neric part that caught him offguard. It was the offworld bit, him scratching his head a bit as he looked at Neric. Even the Void a little confused as he looks at James* "I get the feeling she's watched too many sci-fi movies... I honestly don't know what you are talking about madam." The cloud not moving at all besides looking at the pair here and there. Though he does set down the tray careful and walk over to her, standing on three as he holds one of his hands out to shake* "And it's just Neric, not lord or anything I am not royalty. And no I do not possess people, that's logically not possible as far as I know and I've been around for a long time."

James looking between them before looking at Ivy and Kyle, walking over to them as he speaks up. "Hope you two slept well, seems we got new people in the camp and I get the feeling it's going to be very interesting today to say the least..." Him smiling and bracing for Ivy and her sudden and energetic words and self, knowing the girl is very energetic. He didn't mind it, she was still young and full of life after all. She's enjoying herself.

[Mangrale]

Cecilia never thought much about birdsong in all her time traveling. Yet as she stepped over the grass, the healthily green blades bending under her feet, she mused that if there was ever a time to grow an appreciation or even love of such audible ambience, it'd be during her time here. Yet she was also grateful that there weren't any wild roosters in the vicinity, a loud crow not likely to do her subtle yet present morning grogginess any favors. However, she knew that a good breakfast would and she knew she needed all the strength she could get if she wanted to train to the best of her ability sometime today.

Opening the door to the cafeteria, Cecilia received the distinct impression that it was quite more lively than before. This, she could tell, was due in large part to the ever effervescent Ivy enthusiastically associating with a new camper, Kyle standing next to her. All of a sudden, Max's smoke trail rushed through the door as it was closing behind her. Cecilia suspected it was him, her suspicions confirmed as he rematerialized into his human form, dusting himself off. Cecilia scratched her cheek in her bewilderment, unsure what to make of how hectic things were getting. But she figured extraordinary things like this were just a part of the experience and to be expected. Still, she kinda hoped that nothing would faze her by now. Better luck tomorrow.

From the back end of the line, she could see James and Neric, always a welcome sight and something that brightened her expression all the more while she peered down the sneeze guards and faced a delightful bout of indecision. She couldn't forget that there were campers behind her however, and so picked up a few slices of pork loin (Canadian Bacon) and eggs over easy on top of a golden hash brown with a side of chopped fruit with a sense of haste, the added pressure provoking an immediate, honest response on her part. It honestly looked delicious and she was eager to actually finish this meal.

[KatherinWinter]

"KYLE! DID YOU SEE THAT! THE SMOKE BOY WENT THROUGH ME! I DIDN'T KNOW PEOPLE COULD DO THAT! DID YOU! I LOVE MUFFINS! I LOVE ALL FOOD! THIS IS THE MOST FOOD WE'VE EVER HAD AT ONCE!" Ivy started as she bounced around. Kyle flinched at his sister's words. His sister had no filter. It had been nearly impossible to keep their secret over the years. It was one of the reasons they never stayed in one place long.

"Please don't encourage Ivy. It's hard enough for me to control her." The last thing he needed was someone encouraging Ivy's crazy behavior. He wanted to expose Ivy to people like them. People who would accept them but he still needed to be able to protect her and others. Ivy didn't have the patience to learn the skills he felt she needed to protect others from her powers. He was hoping this camp would help him with that.
@Blueflame @LiegeLord @Mistiel

[DriveEMOut]

Jack shrugged, thought about it, then smiled. "Nowhere else to go. Being adopted and hated is like bringing a store-bought cake to a party when everybody else's' is homemade." He took a bite of his food, and pointed out, "You still haven't told me your name." This camp seemed to good to be true. With people being nice to him and the food, it was like heaven to Jack.

@KimmiNinja

[Blueflame]

@KatherinWinter "oh sorry i didnt mean to i just wasnt watching where i was going. Plus it is kinda hard to stear" max said as he looked up."my name is max" max said holding his hand out for kyle or ivy to shake.

[Sazama]

@DriveEMOut

"Oh it's Val, I should've clarified sorry."
She takes a quick glimpse at her hand before squeezing it.
"I know what that feels like, being hated, being feared, getting tossed around with no place to call home." She smiles at Jack before shoveling more food into her mouth. But hopefully, this camp will be a place to call home. As long as she keeps the promises she made. No fights, no drama, no violence.

[DriveEMOut]

Jack nodded. "Well, I promise I personally won't hate you." He looked down at his empty plate. "Do you know if we could stick together in activities?" He looked down. "It's hard for me to make friends."

@KimmiNinja

[Mistiel]

Lin took a large forkful of pancake and jammed it into her mouth. Two big swallows later, she looked over at Kyle and Ivy, grinning. "Ivy doesn't need to learn to repress her powers. She just needs to be at peace with herself. You can't control fire, hon. Do you really wanna douse your sister?" She, Lin, nibbled at a piece of scrumptious bacon before continuing. "Say Ivy, maybe after breakfast's over, why don't you show me around? I bet nobody can give me a better tour than you!"

[Sazama]

@DriveEMOut

"Maybe we can ask one of the "senior campers"? They'll probably know." Val ran a hand through her hair and leaned back in the chair. "I'm not that great at making friends either especially with...the loud crowd." She turns her head over to where a red-headed girl was shouting and bouncing around surrounded by others. Nothing against those type of people though, but simply put, it's too much energy to try and keep up with people who seem to have an unlimited supply of it. Val turns back to Jack and sets her fork down on her empty plate. "Well they shouldn't mind if we did stick together, camp is all about happiness, rainbows and all that other crap right?"

[KatherinWinter]

@Mistiel

"I don't know who you are but you know nothing about Ivy. I have a hard enough time reaching her to blend in without you helping her stand out." Kyle stated. He handed Ivy a muffin. "She is my responsibility. She always had been and always wI'll be. If she needs a dousing I will do it. I control water so I can do. But I don't like doing it. It hurts her too much." He didn't want to change Ivy. Just make it so she could have a life of some kind."

"KYLE MEANS WELL! HE WORRIES ALOT THOUGH! I WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU AROUND! BUT I BETTER NOT! NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN KEEP UP WITH ME! PLUS I TEND TO GET DISTRACTED AND FORGET WHAT I'M DOING." Ivy giggled as she eatried the muffin. She needed alot of fuel. It was great that they could eat as much they wanted. Kyle did his best to provide for them but they rarely had much to eat.

[LiegeLord]

@Mistiel

When Lin addressed Ivy and Kyle suddenly after her spiel. Neric lowered his hand and just looked at her, looking over to James as he grabs his plate and walks over. Speaking softly as he looks to the boy. "I have no idea what to think of her to be honest, her accusations followed by ignoring my words and introduction..." The Void would shrug as James chuckles, the Void disappearing into his black cloud. The cloud carrying the plate to the ground before reforming into the monkey carrying the plate. Running over to a table as James watched, the little Void could be funny at times if he wanted to be.

@Mangrale

Sighing softly as he looks back at the line, spotting Cecilia getting her plate. James would look away as he tries to fix his hair just a bit, hoping he was presentable and looked overall nice. Picking up his plate and walking over to her as he smiled, speaking softly. "Me and Neric are going to take a table if you wanted to join us..." Him blushing just a tad, heading for the table afterwards or after listening to anything she said. Well just seeing her already brightened his day a bit more. Sitting down with the Void that was looking at the fork before looking at the plate, then to fork again.

"I can understand it's manners, but I really don't need it..." The monkey tossing the knife to the side of the table carefully close by, part of the black cloud flowing over the peppers and sauce. Him looking at James before the cloud would pull back, showing some very dried looking peppers and the sauce is dried up. "Take your time, I know some humans eat slow." James' eyes rolling as he looked at his meal, taking a few bites and smiles as he enjoys it. Neric sitting down and looking around at everyone, nothing about his him moving besides his head and partial body to look around with*

[Mistiel]

In her enjoyment of the food and casual argument with Kyle, Lin belatedly noticed the shadow over by his....friend? Master? Whatever those two had going on, it occurred to her that Neric deserves more than her fear after having spoken aloud.

She tried to catch the Void's....hopefully it had eyes. Addressing it directly, she said, "Sorry Nur..Nuric? My culture shock got the best of me. My name is Lin Yang, I'm seventeen, and my power lets me experience past events I may have no prior knowledge of."

The girl was acutely aware that everyone could hear her. She intentionally left out the bit about her abilities having a certain range. Might as well open up about myself before giving people life advice, she admonished herself firmly. Turning her gaze onto Kyle, she let a bit of frost creep into her tone. "As for you, you approach your own sister like a problem to be solved. Yes Ivy's power might be dangerous. Yes, just putting My hand on her shoulder burned a little. But I think Ivy doesn't need to change in the slightest. Her energy and enthusiasm would be praised in the correct environment. She could explore and map the innermost parts I volcanoes! She could learn to work a smeltery and Make God knows what awesome stuff! So damnit Kyle, you can try to hide It's light under a bushel, but I promise IVY,"

Here she switched her gaze over to Ivy, softening her fierce expression considerably. "I promise IVY that I will do everything I can to help you grow as a person, as your own person, and find ways for you to help everyone with your fire. "

With that long-winded speech, Lin' s broad shoulders visibly sagged as she dropped into a seat at a table beside her and attacks her pancakes with fork and knife in silence. Her blonde mane hid cheeks flaming pink with embarrassment. It's your first e.g.. Don't screw this up, stupid! the little voice in her head told her.

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
"Good morning you two," Cecilia greeted delightfully as she looked up from her tray (she was always careful when handling sensitive things like this), her expression brightening as she smiled between them. "And sure, I'd love to sit with you guys." She carried her breakfast and set it down on a table for the three of them. She turned her head to Neric momentarily while she lowered to her seat, more intrigued to see him "consume" peppers and sauce than him taking a new monkey-like form. She mulled her next words over, already guessing as to what he'll say, but wanting to inquire anyway, as banal as the question may yet sound to him. "I didn't know you eat, Neric. How did you like it?" she asked in genuine curiosity, her fork coming over and slitting the yoke which spilled over the hash brown - a wonderful consistency.

Cecilia began to dig in, the egg on hash just too enticing to not take a bite of first. She uttered a pleased little "Mmm...", glad that the dish tasted as good as it looked and she'd even admit better than any she herself had made, though not aloud. She was very impressed with the new girl who had been so bold in addressing Kyle and Ivy prior to seating herself with them. Cecilia pondered whether or not to introduce herself, but thought that now might not be the best time, although she may have been more worried at saying the wrong thing to her or embarrassing herself in a number of different ways than making the new girl uncomfortable. And being in a crowded room only made Cecilia more anxious and heightened the stakes should worse come to worse. So she left it for now, turning her attention to James and smiling warmly. "Thanks for seeing me to my cabin, James. It was very nice of you."

[LiegeLord]

@Mangrale

"Well we can, but it depends on the Void. I prefer to get my energy in non-violent ways, so this is a nice change of pace for my usual diet. But we can take energy from most things, I even once sapped the power from a power line and sapped half a town of it's power for about thirty minutes or so. But I will say that was a lot of energy that I liked, better then other Voids. There are those that can sap the energy from life and use it to sustain themselves." The Void grabbing his plate and looking it over, making sure he didn't leave anything behind. Picking it up as he looks between them, standing on his hind legs. "Well if you'll excuse me, this is a delicacy of a 'meal' for myself and I'm going to enjoy it." Him jumping off the table, landing carefully to make sure he didn't break the plate. A few dead peppers falling off which his black tail would pick up and put back on the plate before rushing off on his back legs for the counter to get more himself.

James would watch the Void head off, smiling softly before looking to Cecilia. Not even close to being done with his meal as he spoke. "I hope you had a good morning so far, kinda early for me though also kinda late. But this is a nice change of pace for me and Neric, it's hard at times to find stuff he can sap the energy off of without causing trouble. But glad he's enjoying it, though if he needs as much power as I think he will... he'll be over ten plates and maybe be good at that." James would chuckle softly as he says that, taking another bite. This was rather nice, and ya it was a change of pace for not just Neric but for him too. Being on the road constantly, it's hard to get the money to get something. And there are times when he doesn't have a meal here or there, but he wasn't going to bring that up with Cecilia. And hoping she wouldn't think about that and ruin her morning, looking around at everyone before his cheeks would go slightly red from her comment.

"Oh, your welcome Cecilia.... it was dark and I... well I didn't want anything bad happening to you..." His word breaks here and there easily reveal that he enjoyed it and would have walked her back regardless. Him smiling softly with his reddened cheeks as he looks to her, biting his lip gently as he sighs. "Well not saying I didn't enjoy it... I well... I-I did enjoy it. Ya I'm happy I could have, it was nice spending a little more time with you." Finally just coming out with it as he keeps his eyes on her, knowing she's a smart girl and that she would figure it out herself even if he didn't say it. Though he never fully came out with how he felt even with the last girl that he grew close to, so it was a first for him as Neric came back. Climbing up the leg with one hand holding the plate and then gently sitting it down as he looks between them. The Void sitting down as the dark cloud flowed over the hot sauce covered peppers.

[Mangrale]

@LiegeLord
Cecilia nodded silently during Neric's explanation, her mouth full at the time, but she reckoned that she'd keep quiet regardless. She'd just as easily assume a Void would rely on what their partner takes in as nourishment, but it seemed that their diets were as considerably varied as their appetites were massive. It made sense when she considered all the amazing things they can do. Her curiosity satiated and then some, she gladly watched the shrouded monkey go for seconds. It was nice that Neric wasn't adverse to simple questions like hers, but she felt the need to quit while she was ahead. Besides, she didn't want to possibly spoil his breakfast with too many inquiries.

Giggling more than a little after Jame's comment about Neric's appetite, she was caught with a slice of canadian bacon in her mouth and held her left hand over her mouth until she swallowed. From the sounds of things, it was likely very hard at times for the two of them to make it on their own, Neric's reference to the power lines reinforcing this point. But she took encouragement that after all the trouble they may have gotten themselves into, they can still enjoy themselves like this. "Well I'm glad to hear it. This has been a great morning for me," she said sprightly. "Honestly, that was probably one of the best night's sleep I've had in a while."

It was at this time that Cecilia thanked him for last night and looked quietly at his response. He had always seemed more calm and collected than she was the other day. Of course, she may just not have paid close enough attention, more concerned with herself and how she was reacting than his side of things. But seeing him now was a cause for flushed pause, her eyes turning down to her plate before raising affectionately to him. "I... really enjoyed being with you too. You really know how to make someone feel special," she said delicately yet genuinely in return, her face reddening as well. She felt her feelings were a bit more clear, and seeing that James may feel similarly made her really happy, even if she still worried at saying the wrong thing. She was still new to this, after all.

[Mistiel]

@LiegeLord

Lin was mildly surprised to see that Neric had completely ignored her, and gone to wonder off somewhere. It seemed like nearly everyone had tuned her out. Oh no, I seem to have been put on their "ignore" lists like Ivy, she thought morosely. She hadn't thought she was rambling that much. Picking at what remained of her food, she scooted herself down the table closer to the sibling duo. Thankfully Ivy was closer than Kyle, though she had directly picked a verbal fight with the latter. Lin genuinely liked Ivy though and felt oddly protective of the younger girl.

Shaking her mane, she dismissed the feeling as having grown up virtually homeless with no brothers or sisters of her own. Instead, it became easier to listen.