｢╰ 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚 ･ﾟ｣

Being back at The Academy was always unsettling for Ben. There were too many memories attached to the place – too many things of the past buried down that had a risk of coming right back up again if he got too sentimental about being home. He would have avoided the place all together if it weren’t for acknowledging that the childhood home became the gathering place for other people like him and his siblings.

He pressed his tongue against his cheek as he neared the sitting room, looking annoyed when he discovered someone was already in the nook he usually hid in. There was a cushioned alcove by one of the windows that looked out at the world outside The Academy. It had been a favorite spot of his since age four so he wasn’t about to give up easily. it was the only bit of comfort he could find at the house that didn’t involve alcohol or latching onto one of his siblings for a bit of support.

“Alright,” Ben sighed and pulled his hood off his head. He held a book in one hand and kept the other in his jacket pocket. “I know I said my old bedroom was an option for people to take over but my nook was never up for grabs. You need to find a new spot or make enough room for me to join you.”

       ｢╰ ･ﾟ｣     maryse had yet to spend too much time at the academy  ——  there always seemed to be too many people, too much noise, too much everything for her taste. yet, today she’d taken to wandering the halls and trying to connect to the place and the people ; at a safe distance. she didn’t need much to be able to recognize people’s life force and to save it in her memory  —  while she absolutely hated the warm buzz that swarmed her mind, she figured it could come in handy. eventually. not that she had much hope for the fate of the world : she was almost positive that they’d all end up dead.    didn’t hurt to try, though.

       the brunette had ended up in the sitting room, curled up by a window, pondering over how exactly they were expected to stop the impending apocalypse  ——  she didn’t know how her  ‘ ability ‘  could help considering she’d yet to actually do anything productive with it, but something had drawn her to the city. after four months on the road, doing things she didn’t allow herself to regret, she’d finally somewhat settled down : in a hotel room. it was better than nothing, right ?  the voice shook her from her thoughts, an eyebrow arched at the interruption  —  maryse would have just gotten up and left, but   something  about him  (  ben, was it ?  )  was different from anything she’d ever come across. people’s life forces, while in constant movement, were static in the confines of their bodies. while his was too, something about it made her skin crawl  —  just a little.

       ‘  it’s what you get for letting thirty-something strangers into your house,  ‘  her tone wasn’t as harsh as her words, a solid attempt in her mind to make casual conversation  —  a small smile on her lips.  ‘  it’s a good nook, though. mind sharing?  ‘  and she scooted over, tilted her head, waited. she’d get to the bottom of this.

       ｢╰ ･ﾟ｣     in seattle i found maryse bell, a child with the ability of life-force manipulation and death sense. at first, she came off as vindictive but she also seemed loyal. i was unable to procure the child, as an adult, she should resemble chloe bennet.

if you look up small and angry in the dictionary you'll probably get a picture of my vindictive little bubba, beware !!