Somewhere I Belong

[Akiyama Shinobu]

September 9th
Afternoon

Theme: Somewhere I Belong

Yo. I am known as KrylonProhpecy, and this is what I'd consider the very start of something completely unreal. I decided to start this to keep my head straight, to keep all my memories intact. Because I'm not sure what's going to happen to me. Hopefully, at least this blog will survive.

You'll notice that my theme of the day is Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park. While it's none too imaginative, it's too relevant to pass up. Because today I'm moving to The Institute. It's supposed to be like Hogwarts, minus the gimpy uniforms and magic, and plus... To be frank... Superpowers.

My father and I never got along. When I developed my abilities, I was approached by Headmaster. It took me a while to accept his offer to come to The Institute. I thought I could make it on my own. But I've been feeling so out of place. Maybe, this is where I can belong...

*If you can't tell, this is a fictitious blog. Call it a creative writing assignment.*

It was mid-afternoon in the beginning of fall. The trees would begin to change from green to yellow, and clouds would start spotting the sky again soon. It was really a much more colorful time than the other seasons. Yet even in the middle of autumn's display of color, there was a spot of color that made the rest of the world look monochrome. As it walked the concrete pathway through a flat, plain lawn, the blur of color didn't bother to look up to watch his steps, instead typing away at a slide-open cell phone, taking advantage of a full QWERTY style keyboard. More peculiar than the bright yellow jacket, black cargo pants with violet trim, and glow in the dark skull and crossbones tee shirt had to have been the gas mask set upon the teenager's face. One red eye, the other orange and green swirled could have taken a nice second place. Or maybe his spiked back hair, a chaotic blend of orange, blue, royal purple, and white. Yeah, he just screamed peculiar.

Without missing a beat, he managed to climb the steps to the door and kicked the bottom of it with his foot three times. His hands were too busy to bother with actual knocking. It wasn't like he'd kicked the door hard. All he had with him was a rucksack full of clothes and his PSP. His father wasn't much for letting him game, so he'd kept his games nicely hidden. With a soft sigh, he sounded something like Darth Vader. It was a necessary evil to keep him from making people get high in his presence.

"Yo! Anyone in there?"

[hankmccoy]

Hank had been lounging in the spacious living room, perusing the political writing of Aldous Huxley. He was just musing over the metaphorical meaning of citizens being labeled as Epsilons or Deltas when his ear pricked. There was a rap at the door. Glancing quickly at the clock on the wall, he smiled knowingly and placed his bookmark into the novel, sitting it on a nearby coffee table.

He stood then, his bulk causing the polished, wooden floors to groan slightly under his weight. Feeling momentarily self conscious, he straightened his clothing: khaki colored, loose slacks, and a form-fitting cream t-shirt, before pocketing his reading glasses. He set off towards the front door then at a stately pace, arriving just in time to hear impatient words from what sounded like a teenage male. Slowly, he opened the door, stepping into the doorway.

"Salutations, and welcome to Professor Xavier's School for the Gifted. I presume you are Mr. Akiyama," he queried in a pleasant voice. He wasn't entirely sure how their newest ward would take to his blue-furred, hulking appearance; however, he was prepared for damage control if necessary. Not that he really expected the young mutant to lash out violently. It was just Murphy's law.

[Akiyama Shinobu]

As the door handle jingled, Shinobu finished up his text entry and slid the screen back over the keyboard. Just as the door started to open, the cell phone slipped back into his pocket, next to a stack of quarters he kept on him for pick-up games of DDR. And when he took the time to notice what was happening past the door opening, he realized humankind was not alone. Aliens existed! His moment of false identification was over a lot quicker than that though, and the colorful head slowly tilted to the side. So he was constantly being recolored. Xavier had been confined to a wheelchair. And this guy... Blue and hairy. And now he was going into a house where he now could only presume that everyone had some sort of physical defect in addition to an enhancement of some sort. Perhaps that was how Darwin's forces brought about balance.

"Yo." The Japanese child waved two gloved fingers from his temple outward with a light whoosh. It was halfway between a salute and a wave. Nobody else he'd seen had ever done anything like it though. Shinobu liked that. It helped set him apart. Though he put on a fairly calm demeanor, he was still trying to figure out big blue. It was like Geico had a lovechild with the Blue Man Group. Scary thought as it was, what Big Blue could do to him would probably be just a smidge scarier. And a whole lot more physically painful.

"Yeah. New guy. Hope I don't ruin the fun by saying this, but can we keep the introduction shenanigans to a minimum...? Waaay to awkward." Speaking through the gas mask could be a pain, but he just had to make sure he spoke loudly and slowly enough that the sound made it past the muffling effect.

[hankmccoy]

It was then, it seemed, that Hank fully took in the appearance of the young mutant on the doorstep. The wide variance of colors reminded him of a Jackson Pollock painting he had seen once in the Metropolitan Museum of Art; however, what shocked him the most was the gas mask. He moved aside to allow entry for the teenager, closing the door behind them.

"Yeah. New guy. Hope I don't ruin the fun by saying this, but can we keep the introduction shenanigans to a minimum...? Waaay to awkward."

Hank was a little surprised at Mr. Akiyama's remark, but nodded understandingly. Chalk it up to having a physical manifestation of his mutation, but he had a sneaking suspicion the young mutant was worried as to how others might perceive him. Especially looking as colorful as he did. Although he was amongst kindred spirits now, it was a known fact that children could be abnormally cruel; it was most likely a traumatic experience of that nature which led to the wish to forgo any formalities.

"I understand. If that is the case, I could show you to your room, and perhaps offer a small tour of the grounds afterward?" He let a warm smile move across his furry face as he began to walk slowly down the length of the foyer, turning to the young man almost conspiratorially. "And I can assure you that the nuclear facilities in New York are in no danger of a meltdown. Unless there is some other reason for your interesting choice in facial apparel?"

[Akiyama Shinobu]

As Shinobu moved himself into the main hall, he took in the sights not at all impressed. Slightly disappointed actually. By the time the day was over, he was probably going to cause a few hundred dollars in damage if he sprung a leak. The place looked a little too fancy to house a mutant who's power made a mess of just about everything.

"Yeah, quick tour works for me. Prof should have already set up my room with the needed equipment..." The kid scratched the back of his neck, craning it a bit as he tried to memorize all the sights. He'd need to know all of the sights so he could figure out what was a priority for the 'don't touch that' list. He'd have to watch the floors for the most part though. Place seemed to have plenty of ventilation though. Good thing too.

"I guess the prof didn't give you much warning 'bout me, Blue. I'm what he called... A hazard. My gas mask isn't to filter what I'm breathing in. It filters what I breathe out. My breath is toxic. Butane actually. Flammable, possibly fatal if inhaled. Don't know how much you know about chemistry, but it's used in some spray paint brands, and all of them come with those nice warning labels and phone numbers for the poison control center. Prof said my room would be specially tailored with a tile floor and extra ventilation." That was more than he should have spoke, and some of his words were a bit muffled, usually the one-syllable words.

[hankmccoy]

Hank nodded at the boy's explanation of butane, being well aware of the chemical's properties and harmful qualities. He was more impressed with the boy's knowledge than taken aback by the attempt at educating what would become, most likely, one of his own teachers. It was, however, brought to Hank's attention that he had forgotten even one of the most simple forms of etiquette ever devised.

"Oh my stars and garters," he murmured, bringing his hand to his temple and shaking his head. "I can't believe I haven't introduced myself! Do forgive me. My name is Hank McCoy, also called Beast." But for time's sake, he continued walking, pointing out a few of the most essential rooms for the inhabitants: the livingroom, the hallway that led towards both the diningroom and kitchen, the library, and lastly, the student dorms.

Hank stopped outside of one with a plaque clearly marked with 'Shinobu Akiyama', and gestured towards the door. "Bathrooms can be located on either end of the hall designated by gender. I'll give you some time to get settled." Hank looked the boy over once more, smiling gently. He could appreciate the youngster's wishes of getting to a safe place away from other people quickly - whether it was because of his harmful abilities, or perhaps something deeper like self-consciousness in regards to his powers. Whatever the case was, he wanted to let the boy know he wasn't alone. He placed one of his large hands reassuringly on the boy's shoulder and added, "If you should require anything else, don't hesitate to let me know. I'll be in the livingroom."

[Akiyama Shinobu]

((Sorry for the delay... Lately, Work = Biatch))

"S-Stars? Garters? Seriously?" Shinobu mumbled to himself a little, not trying to be heard by Beast. The gas mask helped him mumble so indistinctly it took superhuman hearing to even have a chance of picking it up. With a name like Beast, it may very well have been possible. Then came rooms. A lot of them, but quickly glossed over, thankfully. He didn't see anyone else, might have just been missing them. It was a big place to be sure, so it was possible that they completely missed them all.

"Thanks, Blue." Sure, Hank had a name, but Blue just seemed to stick. "Should be fine."

Shinobu walked into the room, pulling down the gas mask as he flipped on the light switch and ventilation switch in one go. The walls were pristine white. No windows. There were four vents in the ceiling and four on the floor, positioned in each corner. A bucket of cleaning chemicals strong enough to make industrial-strength look like warm water were next to the bed. The floor was covered in wide tiles. Good times. A perfect environment.

The jacket came off and found itself flopped on the bed. Then, freely, he practically ripped off his almost shoulder-high gloves. Droplets of multi-colored paint dripped onto the floor, the first tainting of an otherwise pure room. "I don't think I told you my code name." His stained-glass-like arms spread to his sides, his limbs coiling and uncoiling as if it was the first time they ever saw the light of day. "I'm Vandal."

[hankmccoy]

((No biggie, I've been sick! DX ))

"I don't think I told you my code name. I'm Vandal."

Hank smiled at the boy, who seemed more at ease now that he was in the confines of his own room and under heavy ventilation. He didn't blame him. How long had he himself hidden in the confines of his laboratory before he had gotten the nerve to wander about amongst colleagues and students alike?

"It's an honor and privilege to meet you, Vandal."

There was a mildly awkward moment then. Hank wasn't sure what else to offer the boy: he had already declined needing anything else, and to be honest, Hank wasn't sure what else he could give to him. "Should you need anything else, you know where to find me." He nodded politely towards the boy, turning and making his way down the hallway towards the livingroom.