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Post by Maku on Sept 20, 2009 18:59:24 GMT -5
Grumble. Grumble. Maku's stomach protested fitfully for food. Maku stands, staring blankly at the food tents. He doesn't want to, but he can't just keep sneaking into the food tent every night to sustain himself and to avoid other mutants. The sun in the middle of the sky bakes the ground below him. Mmmm... Baked... Maku sniffs the air, the aroma of freshly cooked foods wafted in the wind. A sliver of drool runs down the corner of his mouth, and Maku's eyes glaze over. He was oh so hungry, and his stomach growled in agreement. He snaps into attention back to the reality around him and takes a deep breath to assure himself. Maku gingerly takes a step into a food tent. He bites his lip, and tries his best to avoid drawing attention to himself. At first, he was suprised by the size of the tent. It was actually larger that it looked. Tables and chairs littered the tent area, bodies taking postions in a few of the chairs. A few faces turn to look at Maku, but then return to what they were doing. People were huddled together, words flowing around the tent.
Maku looks around for food, but also for people who might be watching him. He notices a metal food bar, outlining a side of the perimeter of the tent. He stumbles over himself at first, mainly out of fear and shyness, but then takes his stride, walking to the food bar. He grasps a tray and places a tray and an assortment of silverware onto it. He sidesteps towards the row of food, perusing the selection. Maku begins placing food on his plate, less focused on the food itself, but the people around him. His chin was rested on his shoulder, using his periphery to check who maybe watching. He finally feels the weight of the tray is reasonable, not taking too much or too little. He steps away from the food bar, spinning slowly on his heels.
Maku steps timidly past the tables and tries to avoid drawing attention. He makes his way to an empty table, setting his tray on the table. He hesitantly pulls the chair out, looking around carefully. He takes his seat, still looking around with care. Maku looks down at his food, taking notice. Chicken, a variety of vegetables, and an orange. He smiles and takes a fork, stirring in the vegetables. He sighs softly, thinking to himself. Why am I so scared? There's no point. No one wants to hurt me... Maku opens his mouth, placing the fork with a carrot bit on his tongue and chews it softly before swallowing. He repeats the process slowly.
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Post by Mara Ackart on Sept 20, 2009 19:34:17 GMT -5
Everyone gets hungry eventually. It was to sate that particular need that Mara had come to the food tents. Normally she'd eat and run, sometimes literally, but today she'd decided to stick around. Today she wanted to people watch. She wanted to see the various mutants hanging about this area. It was something she indulged in every now and again.
There were all types around but what interested her most was a young guy that had just walked in as though he were entering the lair of a hundred sleeping tigers. She watched him as he paid more attention to the room than the his plate and she watched him as he sat down to eat at an empty table.
Mara understood being cautious. Mutants were dangerous. There was no way around that fact. It seemed to her that this guy was more frightened than cautious. It peaked her interest. What was more he managed to actually calm down a bit once he'd gotten settled in his seat and started eating.
Mara looked down at her tray. She'd long since finished her meal and all that was left on it was a cooling cup of tea. She casually picked up the tray and took it over to the tray return, saving back her unfinished tea. Walking slowly so as not to spill she walked over to the boy's table.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked. |
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Post by Maku on Sept 20, 2009 20:08:53 GMT -5
Maku bit down onto another piece of vegetable before cocking his head around to look behind him. When he goes back to look forward, a woman enters his view. "Mind if I join you?"
Maku panics and cringes. What should I do?! Maku glances up at her, biting his lip. "I don't mind." What did he just say?! Did I just invite another mutant to join me!? The hell am I thinking?!
Maku looks down at his food, and fidgets with his hands under the table. He pulls slightly on his red, short sleeved shirt. He feels light-headed and confused. Maku can't help but stir in his food with fork in hand. What should I say? What should I do? A few questions without answers ran through his head. He didn't know how to react, and maybe someone else was at the wheel. He was about to say something, but retracted himself. He sat still, waiting for her to take a seat.
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Post by Mara Ackart on Sept 20, 2009 20:52:07 GMT -5
Mara simply nodded and sat down opposite the boy. She studied him for several moments and then took a sip of her tea. He looked frightened and yet he had agreed to her joining him. It was interesting.
"Well then I'm Mara. You could also call me Slipstream if you like."
She introduced herself calmly and quickly. She didn't really feel like lingering over words today. She took another sip of her tea and looked him dead in the eye. She figured it'd be best to take things slowly with him. He seemed skittish. |
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Post by Maku on Sept 20, 2009 21:14:32 GMT -5
Maku looks up from his food to the woman. She was... very calm and relaxed. At least from what he could see. She doesn't seem that bad. "Well then I'm Mara. You could also call me Slipstream if you like."
Maybe it was how she said her words, but Maku sighs softly and smiles weakly. "It's-s nice to meet you.. You may call me M-Maku."
He stumbled over his words slightly, hoping she wouldn't point it out too much. Her stare was a little off putting and made him a bit uncomfortable. He looks down at his food and prods his fork into the meat of the chicken. It punctured the skin and Maku winced a little, thinking it would be rude to talk to her while eating. He could wait for food. He fumbled with his thumbs. His brown hair was messy. He looked like he just woke up. Little would she know, but he did, in fact, just wake up. His feet trail on the floor, the tip of his feet tracing a circle under the table.
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Post by Mara Ackart on Sept 20, 2009 21:44:07 GMT -5
Mara nodded. He seemed to be calming down. That was good. It was a little irritating to Mara to talk to nervous folk. She therefore ignored his stuttering. If she dwelt on it she'd become overly annoyed.
"Likewise Maku." she said.
She took one last sip of her tea, emptying the cup. She set the cup down on the table and stretched briefly before looking back at Maku. She wasn't quite sure what to make of him honestly. She decided to stay quiet. The more she observed him the better she'd understand. |
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Post by Maku on Sept 20, 2009 21:56:09 GMT -5
Maku couldn't make it out, but it felt like tension. Or maybe something else. "Likewise Maku."
He clears his throat, looking back up at her as she sets her cup down. "If you don't mind me asking.. Why d-did you say to call you Slipstream, Mara?"
He pulled on his shirt again. Security reactions, maybe? He couldn't put his finger on it, but he didn't know what to do. His food was getting cold and his stomach roared softly for food. He pushes the tray aside, and places his forearms on the table, his fingers interlaced and thumbs rolling against each other softly.
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Post by Mara Ackart on Sept 20, 2009 22:05:39 GMT -5
Mara smirked slightly. He asked about her mutant name. It said a number of things to her but she kept them back in her mind.
"That's my mutant name of course. The nickname I acquired due to my powers." she explained lightly.
She had thought about explaining her ability too but decided on forbearance at the last moment. There were too many other people around. It would be highly foolish to expose her abilities here where she couldn't be sure about the loyalties of the people around her. |
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Post by Maku on Sept 21, 2009 17:51:37 GMT -5
Maku understood people who developed nicknames for their powers. He hated being a mutant, but he also hated not knowing his own strength. His appearance was a definition of inexperience and innocence, in a way. To some, it seemed obvious he had no knowledge of his own abilities, to others it just seemed like he was trying to hide it. Maku was unsure if Mara had even caught on to the fact.
He continued to fiddle with his thumbs, maybe from being nervous or uncomfortable. Maku finally broke his hands away from each other and raked his fingers across his hair. He parted his lips for another sentence, but his tone showed a bit of jealousy and sadness. "I'd ask what your power was.. but I don't think I should. It would seem a bit... invasive. But, at least you know your abilites, I don't even have an idea of my mutation."
It was the way he said mutation. It came with a harshness, yet it was subtle. He obviously didn't like the word itself, and the label that came with it. His hands came together in his lap, not visible to Mara. Maku's right hand gripped his left wrist rather firmly, his body a bit tense.
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Post by Mara Ackart on Sept 22, 2009 18:29:12 GMT -5
Mara seemed to have hit a streak. She'd landed herself upon another mutant that wasn't really happy with their mutation. She figured this one was too young and too nervous to be of any real use though. Not to mention the work that'd be needed to draw out Maku's mutation and train him in it.
"I wouldn't tell you about my mutation with so many people around anyway." she replied.
She left any lectures on acceptance that were brewing trapped in her mind. This wasn't the place for it. Her curiousity was pretty much sated. She knew why he'd been so nervous now. He feared and hated his mutation. That caused him to feel the same way about mutants in general. It left a bad taste in her mouth. |
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Post by Maku on Sept 22, 2009 18:47:48 GMT -5
Maku's food was officially cold. It might as well have been frozen. So much for actually getting a meal in. "I wouldn't tell you about my mutation with so many people around anyway."
Maku sighed, his tone dramatically shifted. He spoke with a tang of fear and sadness, "I guessed as much. It's all a game of mysteries of who can kill who first with the better mutation..."
His body tension subsided and was like a form of surrender, giving himself to whomever's whim. He looked around, noticing people stand and walk out of the tent. A few, no more than five or six stood and took their leave. He let thoughts progress and wander his mind. He took a soft smile to Mara and commented in an improved tone. "I happy we can just talk like this, I mean, I haven't had a real calm conversation with anyone before."
'Calm' was uttered in a way that implied anyone else he must have talked with had some extreme tension of fear or otherwise. But a lingering thought rang through him. Don't forget! She's like them all, just another mutant. Like you! A FREAK! Discomfort pained his face from this voice slicing his thoughts. It was a short-lived emotion that he hoped Mara didn't notice. He was intrigued, nonetheless, by Mara, only waiting for his conversation to continue.
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Post by Mara Ackart on Sept 22, 2009 19:00:56 GMT -5
Mara looked around, watching the other mutants leave. She decided not to risk it and picked up Maku's tray. She walked over to the food line and dutifully replaced the cold food with fresh. She picked up a fresh cup of tea and returned to the table. She placed his tray back in front of him and the sat down with her tea.
"Eat." she said, "No point in standing on ceremony here."
She pressed her lips together and made a face.
"I don't plan on killing any mutant that stays out of my way."
Her tone left no illusions as to what she'd do to the humans that got in her way. They worked with or agreed with the people that put her in here and she had no qualms in killing them.
"I'd guess you probably haven't had any calm conversations. That happens when you are scared of yourself and everyone around you." Mara said bluntly. |
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Post by Maku on Sept 22, 2009 19:51:47 GMT -5
His eyes traced her movement, to the food line, then back. He smiled with grateful eyes and began to eat as soon as she finished her first sentence. Maku was a relatively fast eater, but recently, he takes his leisure when doing most things. He finishes off the vegetables replaced, and works his way through another slice of chicken, warm and delicious. It was a bit dry though, but he didn't complain.
He stops in mid chew as the words leave her mouth. "I don't plan on killing any mutant that stays out of my way."
Maku was surprised and a bit of fear instilled him. He makes a mental note, 'Don't get in her way...' It was almost as if the voice was right, but only if one would paraphrase the words. Maku blinks, and sets his food back down. His bottom lip curls into his mouth, his front teeth fringing below his top lip. Then words were like a slap to the face. "I'd guess you probably haven't had any calm conversations. That happens when you are scared of yourself and everyone around you."
He looked hurt, and honestly thought her words were a sharp blade of truth he didn't want to hear, digging its teeth into his torso. Maku was scared of everyone else. It was obvious. But fear of himself.... He blurts rather angrily, but still toned softer by his age and mixed emotions, "I'm not s-scared of myself! I'm afraid of Freaks, LIKE YOU!"
His arms withdraw under the table, his fingers clenched by his palm. Tense again... Not good. He was about to storm off, standing to leave, but he was drawn in by a force beyond himself. He wanted to just leave, but couldn't, almost strapped into the chair. Maku was a little loud, and no doubt people could have heard him. It may have been a mistake to even open his mouth at all....
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Post by Mara Ackart on Sept 22, 2009 20:05:52 GMT -5
Mara grinned as Maku lashed out. People lashed out like that when their opponent had a point. It was a knee jerk reaction to protect their mindset. Mara just stretched and let the pitiful insult roll right off of her.
"Yeah, I'm a freak. Every person here is one. Including you. We're all the same. In fact a good majority of the folks here won't hurt you unless you hurt them first. There are housewives and school children here. There are scientists and artists. Very few of the mutants here are trained to hurt nor do they want to.'
'You fear us because you fear yourself. You don't know what you are capable of and you're just a kid. That makes you scared."
Mara looks at Maku. If life were fair he wouldn't be here. He wasn't cut out to be a mutant. Life has never been fair though. |
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Post by Maku on Sept 22, 2009 22:57:15 GMT -5
Maku couldn't stand it when people proved him wrong. He was retaliating and about to march out, brooding. That was putting it delicately. He decided to stay, even though now he had the attention of just about everyone in the food tent. Maku almost wanted to yell at her... But what good would come of it. Instead, he slumps into his chair. He's defeated and desperate.
His words slither out from him, almost beggingly, "What... What Should I Do?.. Mara?.." You could have just about swapped his words out with 'Kill me now. I'm ready.' But that wasn't what he wanted.
Maku doesn't want to die. He doesn't want to rot. And he sure as hell doesn't want to be afraid anymore. He needs guidence and support. It was obvious by how easily he gave up on his argument. It felt as if the eyes of the entire room were drilling into him. He could feel it.
Maku holds his forehead, palm flat onto his head. What should I do?
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