Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Post by Melody Newton on Aug 8, 2021 12:00:29 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | Melody had turned halfway towards the door when he spoke again.
"I can't take it."
Not that she cared. It hardly even slowed her rotation.
"I lied."
She stopped at that. Slowly she swivelled back towards him. He looked nervous, like a teenager that has been caught out by their too-strict parent. She finds herself momentarily empathic, after all, she has been in that exact situation many times before. Normally she was the one rubbing nervous sweat from her palms. Or, as was rather more likely, staring her father down defiantly.
Melody recognises more about that look though, that expression, worried that others might be afraid, or angry. She's seen it on her own face in the mirror moments after she burned a hole in her wardrobe, on the faces of other students here at the school.
"Why? Why would you lie about that when everyone here already is one?"
| © seadra of gs |
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Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Jun 30, 2021 17:38:23 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Jun 30, 2021 17:38:23 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | Melody, with the innate talent most teenage trouble makers seem to possess, identifies the adult approaching near instantly. Her clutch is over her arm and slung behind her in an instant, as though it had never been in her hands with a joint being snuck into it at all. She smiles the innocent smile of the guilty at the woman who has said exactly the words that any adult at these events would say to her.
In response, Melody smiles awkwardly. Like most teens, she's not sure quite what to do when faced with an adult that thinks of themselves as on her level, especially as most adults these days have no idea what it's like to be a teenage metahuman in a boarding school for challenging children.
"No, I am here with my Dad. Family support and all that." This particular speech is spoken in such a way that suggests that Melody is posed in a summer camp photo and flashing a peace sign. She resists the urge to pat her clutch to check it is still there. It would have been an amateur mistake, and Melody is hardly an amateur teenage troublemaker.
"I guess you're here because you have lots of money right?"
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Jun 27, 2021 18:06:38 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Jun 27, 2021 18:06:38 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | The corner that Melody has secreted herself into is sufficiently out of the way that she is unlikely to be bothered, but not so far away or isolated that her father would get particularly pissed off looking for her. Things had been strange between them since New York. Not necessarily better, but certainly different. Their relationship had been fraught for a long time, pretty much since she had hit puberty, and it certainly hadn't improved when he'd sent her away to the Evergreen Metahuman Boarding Academy.
She was pretty sure that was why she was here. Normally her father would not have bothered to invite her along to a fundraiser like this, and she certainly wouldn't have accepted. Although as has already been discussed, things have been different between them since the New York attacks. Which is how she finds herself here. Melody had managed about fifteen minutes of small talk and mingling before she'd gotten tired of her father's colleagues and sponsors saying how much she'd grown and how pretty she was now, those that had already known her, the rest seem moderately perplexed at the presence of a fifteen year old girl in the midst of an expensive scientific fundraiser of the kind that most universities host annually.
The orange juice she is sipping is in an identical flute to the champagne that is being served. None of the waiters would allow her a glass, and she'd given up trying after the first two had laughed her off. It felt particularly childish to have the non-alcoholic offering be in a champagne flute as well, as if she is playing at being an adult. She sighs, wishing that she was just about anywhere but here. Even her phone offers little solace, with only a handful of messages from friends and none that she particularly feels like responding too. Half-heartedly she taps out a response with one hand, still sipping the orange juice and wishing it was something stronger.
Tucking the phone into her clutch, her fingers brush against something dry textured. She looks around, checking that no one can see her, before producing the blunt from the small black bag. She'd forgotten she had this, now she just needed to find somewhere more private and this would really be a party. Tucking it surreptitiously back into her clutch, she starts searching for a more private room, or maybe even an exit to the roof.
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Feb 27, 2021 17:10:06 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Feb 27, 2021 17:10:06 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | There is a moment that could go either way, resolution, or yet another blazing row. She does not want the latter, yet cannot bring herself to apologise and go and change. Their eyes remain locked for a moment longer, before, to her surprise, Melvin backs down. Not physically, he doesn't even look away, but he leaves the argument where it is. Melody is not sure how she feels about this acquiescence, a year ago she might have rejoiced at this small victory. Right now part of her feels like her father is still treating her as if she is made of glass.
The car journey passes in silence, Melody spending most of it on her phone. Occasionally, when she thinks he is not looking, she glances up at her father behind the wheel. Still not quite sure what to make of his current behaviour, she studies him for only a fraction of a second before going back to her phone. She is messaging back and forth with a few friends from school, Ed and Keke mostly, though she is thrilled to see that Maia Morales is also responding to her messages. Not that she'd ever admit to it.
The science centre is much as she remembers it, albeit faded and smaller than she recalls. They haven't visited in years, and like many memories of those times, not much has changed, but everything seems subtly different in a way she can't quite put her finger on. She's about to simply haphazardly slap the orange sticker onto the front of her top, but pauses. Then, like her father she carefully places it on the left, carefully straightened. It's not quite as militarily straight as Melvin's own badge, but it's only off by a few degrees.
For a moment she is taken back in time to when visits here were an eagerly awaited treat. She'd always tried to put the sticker on as straight as her father then too. She looks over to the interactive displays which show the options available to them. She is surprised to see an advert flash across the screen for the 'Brand New Metahuman science Exhibition!'
She looks away, she's not sure she's ready for that kind of a science exhibition, and regrets making this choice for a moment, before another exhibit catches her eye. "Do you think any of your work might be in there?" She nods towards a sign indicating the way to the Chemical Engineering Exhibition, 'How Chemistry makes our world and we remake it.'
Without waiting for a response she starts heading towards the entrance of the exhibition, only slowing a little so her father can catch up.
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Jan 15, 2021 13:25:46 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Jan 15, 2021 13:25:46 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | Completely oblivious to the truth behind Nell's father issues, Melody smiles, "What is it with Dads and being dicks?"
"Although I guess neither of us would be here if we had loving and supportive parents." Her attitude softens, clearly sensing some kinship in the nervous girl, however mistaken that may be. Deliberately pulling her eyes away from the fading bark across Nell's skin and up to her eyes. "You got that back under control pretty quick. I wish I was that good at not losing my shit."
It might not be the only reason she was here, but her short fuse has definitely landed her in some situations that got her close to it. The having super powers as well as anger-management issues really didn't help either, those problems tended to be a lot bigger than the problems the average kid might cause if they lost their temper. Turning, she reaches out and collects some of the paper folders she has dropped on top of the piano. There are several different composers featured there, and she finds one that might be a little less challenging than the initial piece of music she'd picked. She doesn't know it as well, but it is at least slower so would give her more time to think.
"Want to... Want to try again?"
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Jan 10, 2021 15:39:23 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Jan 10, 2021 15:39:23 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | "You're wearing that?"
It hurts. Melody feels her chest ache. He didn't raise his voice, Melvin never raised his voice. It takes everything she has not to flinch despite that. Some of her energy ebbs away, and she looks down at her feet, seeing the undone laces of her converse that she'd been in too much of a rush to tie on her way down the stairs.
"I need to..." She clears her throat to speak more confidently. "I need to do some laundry. So I haven't really got much else to wear."
What she's wearing isn't anything special, just something she'd pulled out of the suitcase. She hadn't thought about it, just thrown something on for a trip out with her dad. It's not as if the science centre would be cold. As far as she knows the whole building is climate controlled in fact. "It's not like I need to dress up to go out somewhere with my Dad is it?" There's a challenge in her tone, and she raises her gaze to meet his. She's not quite as tall as he is, but he's not a tall guy, and she's almost at eye level with him, lending her some force. "They're just clothes."
| © seadra of gs |
|
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Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Post by Melody Newton on Jan 2, 2021 18:05:29 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | Melody isn't surprised that Nell starts backing away, she is used to being a big fish. What surprises her is what happens next. The girl's skin changes, not a slow and gradual adjustment, but a rapid one, like watching a nature video at ten times speed. Vines creep along her skin as if they are taking the place of veins, while thorns begin to protrude from her arms and neck. To Melody's shock she can see the tips of thorns beginning to penetrate the fabric of Nell's clothes.
"Fuck." Melody sits back down on the piano stool, hard.
Raising her hands in a placating gesture, Melody tries not to stare too hard at the bark now covering the other girl's skin, or replacing it? She can't tell. "Just calm down alright."
It's a little hypocritical as only a moment ago Melody had been the one losing her temper. She's still angry, and the flush in her cheeks shows that, though for once she doesn't feel ashamed at the shift she can feel in her eyes as one fades from amber into silver, the shape of her iris contorting subtly, but unnaturally.
Melody looks away for a moment and back at the piano. "Maybe we can just go a bit slower next time."
Her tone is gruff as she stares determinedly at the ivory keys of the piano, it's clear that is about all of the apology she's willing, or able to issue. Turning back, the flush begins to fade from her cheeks and neck and her silver iris drinks in the light as she casts a frank gaze over Nell. She's no stranger to being ashamed of how her power makes her look, but it's clearly much worse for the older girl.
"You can never meet my Dad..."
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Dec 12, 2020 15:29:51 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Dec 12, 2020 15:29:51 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | Melody wishes she could be lost in the music in the way Nell clearly is. Not that she has time to wish that. When she'd said it had been a long time since she'd played, she hadn't been lying. It was one of the reasons she'd picked this piece of music. It had been one of the few she'd had in the house, and as a result she'd known it back to front, her mothers notes included. Or rather, in particular.
Even so, she hasn't played it in nearly two years, and it takes everything she has to keep up with the older girl. Not that she's managing to do so very well. The moments she stumbles are not overly frequent, but they are there, and they almost make her flinch every time they happen. She tries her best to recover from each mistake, speeding up, jumping sections if she falls behind.
The music stops, Melody lifts her fingers from the keys, her face reddening as she clenches her hands into fists. Her voice is harsh as she snaps. "You went too fast, can't you see the tempo on there. Maybe I should get out a metronome for you."
She pushes away from the piano. Maybe this was just a mistake, she never should have come to this stupid lesson. At least the teacher hadn't been here to see the mistakes she'd made.
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Dec 11, 2020 17:07:32 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Dec 11, 2020 17:07:32 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | "Brave?" Melody raises an eyebrow, "I dunno, all my so-called friends ditched me in the car to get arrested instead of actually helping me out. I guess stealing and joyriding in a car doesn't make you brave. Just stupid."There is a flash of anger and just a hint of regret in her tone. It is the reason she's here after all, the straw that broke the camels back and gave her the choice between juvie and boarding school. The so-called friends she'd been with had gotten off scott-free. She hadn't snitched, they were still in their own homes and probably hanging out together. They'd ditched her though, right after they'd talked her into breaking open the car with her powers. So much for that friendship. Having been given the choice, Melody crossed the room to the bookshelf, prodding her fingers against the folders, looking for something that seemed familiar. She hadn't played in a long time, but a few of the names stand out to her. With long fingers she pulls a fresh looking folder from the neatly ordered rows. 'Brahms' is written on the spine in a neat hand. She rifles through the folder as she walks back over to the piano, producing two sets of sheets and sliding one across the lid of the baby grand. She unfolds the pages onto the piano music stand and sits down, discarding the folder onto the floor behind the stool. "Was that Latin?" Melody asks the question as she arranges the pages to her satisfaction before opening up the lid once more. It takes her a second to settle into position, resting her fingers gently on the keys as she reads through the sheet music before her. "I'm really rusty, so if I fuck up then...." She shrugs. Finally settling herself, she looks expectantly at Nell. "Ready?" | © seadra of gs |
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Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Post by Melody Newton on Dec 6, 2020 20:28:55 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | "Shit... New York..."
It's entirely probable that most metas are not aware of the amount of hate they might receive in New York, but Melody is the daughter of one of the foremost metahuman researchers in the country. She's heard what it's like in New York. Her face softens a little, and she looks away from Nell awkwardly. The attitude towards metas is considerably different in San Francisco, the strong Hero presence and the city's reputation as the home of Paladin means people flock there to catch a glimpse of the famous Hero. There is damage done by villains, even casualties, but somehow the West coast manages to keep a positive attitude towards metahumans.
"I uh... I didn't fit in before I was a meta."
A shadow crosses her face, perhaps a flash of guilt. "I'm not really much like you then I guess. I... Uh... I got caught in someone else's car... Smashed it up, like, real bad."
Melody shrugs, sitting down on the piano stool. "My 'friends' ditched me and let the cops collect me." She emphasises the word 'friends' with two fingers on each hand. "Guess they weren't great friends after all."
She rests one of her hands on the piano keys again, feeling the strange warmth that they still seem to hold from her fingers earlier. "If I hadn't been a meta and had an influential Dad I guess I would have ended up in Juvie. I got the choice of here or that." She shrugs once more. "It could have been a lot worse. Though I guess I'd have had a few bitches if I had ended up in Juvie, so maybe I'd have had more fun there."
Glancing at the door, Melody returns her gaze to the violin in Nell's hands. "Teacher isn't here yet... Want to play something before I have to be a bitch? I warn you though, I haven't played in a while, so it has to be something easy."
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Nov 19, 2020 19:23:25 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Nov 19, 2020 19:23:25 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | Too focused on concealing her lack of appetite, Melody doesn't notice her father's presence until he clears his throat. She manages not to jump, instead remaining focused on breakfast before her as she spears a fragment of the cinnamon and maple syrup soaked French toast into her mouth. It's good, her father is a surprisingly good cook, but she still can't bring herself to really enjoy it in the way she would normally.
She turns around in surprise as he asks if she wants to do something. For a moment she is speechless, long enough for him to continue on. She hasn't done anything with her father since... Well... Since he dropped her off at the Evergreen Metahuman Boarding Academy, and that hardly counts.
Her automatic response is to scoff at his suggestion, as if she'd want to actually spend time with her father. Except, she finds it hard to say those words. Eventually she manages to speak, only to find those words escaping anyway. "The park? What am I? Six?"
Immediately she regrets her response, turning back to stare awkwardly down at the scraps of French toast now swimming in maple syrup. She tightens her hands into fists, she's missed her father, much as she might deny it, and the events in New York have only made those feelings more acute. She stands up and stands awkwardly, her fists held by her sides. "I... Uh..." She wants to say sorry, but can't quite force the word out, compromising instead with "I don't know why I said that..."
She takes a step forward unconsciously, wanting to hug him, but holds back from his stiff, upright form. "The science centre would be nice I guess."
It doesn't fill her with the excitement it once had when she'd been eight, but it would be time with him when he wasn't working. That thought sparks a long-forgotten thrill at the base of her mind. She smiles awkwardly. "I guess I should go shower and get dressed."
The shower doesn't take long, despite Melody's typically teenage penchant for wasting hot water. Towelling herself dry swiftly, she pulls her hair up and back into a bun before pulling a pair of shorts and a top out of her suitcase. She still hasn't unpacked, and a glance at the rapidly diminishing pile of clothes informs her that she really should do some laundry soon. Usually her father would never have let things get to this stage, but he's been strangely forgiving for the last few days.
Grabbing a rucksack and her phone, she clatters down the stairs in black Converse, the white laces flying like streamers behind her. She stops on the last few steps, aware that she has an image to maintain, and slouches down them with a moody look on her face. "Are we going then?"
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Oct 23, 2020 14:37:25 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Oct 23, 2020 14:37:25 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | Melody hasn't moved from her position facing the piano when Nell finally breaks the silence. She's been staring at it, lost in thought, not really listening to what the other girl had to say. The baby grand seems to drink in the light, it's polished black surface both reflective and bottomless at the same time. It's almost hypnotic, and the fact that her fingers had been dancing over those keys only a few moments before makes it harder for her to pull herself away.
The question brings her back, reminds her that she's been in this place for nearly a year. Well... Sort of. She'd had a brief break from EMBA after the ferry attack in New York City, but otherwise had spent all of her time here. Even the brief weekend trips to the local town felt like they were imprisoned, watched over as they were by the staff at all time. "I guess... About a year?"
She shrugs, staring at the case Nell had extracted from the collection. None of the cases quite matched, and the other girl had seemed to go for this one with unerring accuracy. It must belong to her. "So what got you sent here?"
She changes topic, moving on from the instruments to something completely different. "Did you lose control of your power or something?"
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Sept 21, 2020 18:18:40 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Sept 21, 2020 18:18:40 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | At the mention of the violin Melody finds her eyes drawn back to the piano. Classic partners as they are. It's almost as if someone has planned this meeting out, which she realises someone has. This time her eyes find their way to the small black sphere in one corner of the room. They are everywhere in the building, mostly out of sight, but always reminding the students that there is someone watching them.
She could have obliterated the intrusive black sphere with a thought, but all that will do, other than granting her some brief privacy, is bring the school's ire down upon her. Melody has already experienced that, and she is more than protective over her rare chances to leave the school campus with weekend trips.
Melody takes a deliberate step back. "I'm Melody. I guess I should introduce myself."
"I'm Melody." There is an awkward pause in which one would normally extend a hand to shake, though Melody makes no such move. She turns back towards the baby grand instead, the piano which dominates so much of the space, small though it is. Just past the gleaming black instrument she can see the strings. Including, amongst their number, several violins. She wonders if Nell has her own, violinists often do.
"I haven't played the piano in a long time." There is something defensive in her tone, as if expecting Nell to mock her musical skills.
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Sept 17, 2020 20:01:32 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Sept 17, 2020 20:01:32 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | Melody opens her mouth to object again, then closes it. Three sessions seems too much to her, she doesn't need a therapist, and she certainly doesn't want one. She wants to argue, to tell him that he can stuff his therapist, even though she knows it won't make anything better for her. She doesn't, and even if you asked her she'd struggle to tell you why. Some aspect of her father is different, something about the way he's speaking to her differs from his usual clinical indifference.
It's left her off-balance. She used to look up to her father, seek out his approval, but in recent years things have changed. She doesn't seek out that approval anymore.
Feeling like a small child again, her jaw works for a moment, before she manages to produce a response. Even so there's rebellion in that too, "I'm not doing more than three."
Her jaw juts defiance, and she mutters under her breath, "They're just some stupid shrink anyway."
She turns, the scent of French toast finally winning it's argument and calling her in the direction of the kitchen. She makes no effort to be quiet, slamming the door of the oven once she has removed the warmed plate and allowing said plate to clatter upon the breakfast island while she grabs the heavy bottle of maple syrup. It's the real stuff, from Canada, not some cheap corn syrup from Walmart, and she pours it liberally over the French Toast.
Finally, she digs into the French toast, but, just like the last two days of it, finds herself unable to finish, her appetite dries up after only a few slices and she's left picking at it. In an effort to disguise her lack of appetite she starts to pull the remaining French toast apart and pushes it around the plate. Her father would only take this as a further sign of her needing a therapist.
| © seadra of gs |
|
|
Some Princes Don't Become Kings
ALIAS
Eclipse
CLASSIFICATION
Blaster
POWER
Ocular Light Manipulation
AGE
15
Student
|
Sept 10, 2020 17:52:20 GMT
Post by Melody Newton on Sept 10, 2020 17:52:20 GMT
Eclipse All my childhood heroes have fallen off or died | "Sorry?" Melody take another step back. "Why the f&*k are you sorry?"
Always one to lash out rather than apologise, the girl's meekness catches the younger teen off guard. She steps up to her again, which probably won't resolve the issue of the girl's meekness, but that seems to escape Melody in the moment. "If anyone has a problem with what you look like, then f&*k 'em. I mean... Don't really f&*k them. But like... Do whatever your shit is..."
She makes a vague gesture in the girl's direction "Your power I mean."
She's aware that many people have abilities that are borderline, if not actually useless, but everyone here at EMBA seems to have an ability that is dangerous to other people, and in many cases themselves.
Rolling her eyes, Melody finally comes back to question she'd actually been asked. "The staff. Obviously. Told me I had to start playing again or they'd take away my privileges. Something about letting it go to waste." The last sentence is grumbled, half under her breath.
"Guess you volunteered then?"
| © seadra of gs |
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