forum Replacement // 4/4 // Closed

Started April 16, 2020 by Deleted user

tune

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Kuro doesnt drink soda

So I'll totally join, but I might be off NB because college.

That's what you always saaaaaaaaaaaaaay. Besides college doesn't exist rn

It does for me. I shouldn't be here at all. I have a lot of work.

PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEASE

I have an essay due this Tuesday. Yes.

And I didn't find out until yesterday.

Not sure if this means you'll join or not.

Oh hell yes I'm joining. When Baylee sends me a PM invite there is no way I'm turning that down.

I'ma mess with Orion because I think he would work. Just lump in another power or two. Also I finally found a good pic for him so YAY!!!

cheers

huzzah

Okay

So

I want to start this with the OG three talking about how they're feeling after the death of the fourth person, Wade Bauer

Jac, Kuro, and Wade basically grew up together, so they are pretty fucked up over everything that has happened

Then, after all the tears, angry words, and sadness is flushed out, the newcomer enters and they begin introductions

So

little bit of backstory

the Patriots are military, so technically they have military ranks and take orders from the general

They all live in the same house, which is the second largest in the town they took over. (The first is the "White House")

Jac curled his knees up to his chest, frowning slightly at the TV screen. An empty tub of ice cream rested next to him on the bed, resting on its side since the spoon weighed it down. Forrest Gump was playing on the TV, but he was finding it hard to focus on it. He was finding it hard to focus on anything. The only thing on his mind was the thought of his lost friend.

It should've been a routine patrol on their border with New Brazil. Word of activity has been given to them in two different locations right on the country line, so they had split up into their typical two-man teams: Jac and Kuro, and Arin and Wade. The only thing on their side had been a deserted car. A quick search showed that the person had run out of gas and just left it where it laid. Arin and Wade, however, had been a different story.

By the time Kuro and Jac had gotten there, everything was over. Arin was kneeling next to a charred body, her expression on of complete shock. Jac had burst into tears the moment he realized what had happened and hadn't ever really recovered. So, here he was, trying to drown himself in chocolate chip mint ice cream and his favorite movie.

Kuro had taken the long way back from command. The long way being that she walked the eight miles instead of just teleporting right to her squad's front door. She had spent the time huddled deep in her coat, going over the events of the debriefing over and over and over again as if it would change what had happened to her team–to Wade.

Now the young Captain stood just to the left of Jac's door, back against the wall, watching the light from his TV dance across the floor. He was probably watching Forrest Gump again, not that Kuro could hear it, but the fact that she just knew he would be seeking comfort. Jac and Wade had been thick as thieves and now…Wade was gone.

Reaching out with her right arm, Kuro rapped her knuckles against the door frame. She waited a beat before moving herself into Jac's view, recrossing her arms as she did so. She had shucked her coat, but her midnight black sunglasses had stayed in place as usual. Even through them, Kuro could see how devastated Jac was. It was hard seeing him like this, face tear stained and distraught. His ever present smile was missing, and it made Kuro suddenly worried that he would never smile again. Her chest felt like it was about to cave in, the grief eating away at her from the inside like a ravenous beast. And yet–she hadn't shed a single tear.

How are you holding up? Kuro cringed slightly as her hands moved gracefully in the air between them and she tucked them back against her chest. What a damn stupid thing to ask right now…but it was all she had.

Jac's eyes followed her hands with a frown, forcing his brain to translate the motions to words. Gump's jumbled talking was making it a bit hard to focus, but he eventually got the message down after a couple of seconds. He grabbed the remote to the DVR and paused the movie, knowing that they were about to have a really difficult conversation.

He stretched his hands out from underneath the sleeves of his hoodie and beckoned Kuro to come closer. She nodded and closed the distance between them. He reached up and gently lifted the glasses from over her eyes. It was what he did anytime they talked about something serious. Something about making eye contact with her made his thoughts clearer.

Horribly, he signed as she sat down, the gestures coming to him like second nature now. Can't stop thinking about him.

Kuro squinted at the light, lips turning down in a frown as they always did whenever Jac took her shades. But she saw how he visibly relaxed a little at the sight of her blues, so she allowed their removal–like always.

Gently tucking her shades into her back pocket, Kuro sat on the very edge of Jac's couch next to him, tilting her face just enough that he probably wouldn't notice that she hadn't cried yet. That pain in her chest doubled, and Kuro swallowed hard enough that she figured Jac had heard it.

Me neither. She paused, rubbing her fingers against her palms as her words got jumbled in her head. Her black brows came down over her eyes as her signs were hesitant and slow–almost as if she didn't really want to be saying them. I keep expecting him to burst through the door, yelling at us about some stupid new car he found while exploring. But every time I look up– Another hesitation, Kuro's lips twisting in emotion. He's. Not. There.

Quite suddenly, an aggressive shiver went through Jac's body. Everything she just said reflected his own feelings to a T and the emotion on her face was something he had never seen from her before. She was as stoic as they came, even in the most dangerous, stressful moments, but right now she looked…..devastated. Seeing her like that was the breaking point for him.

The tears came all at once, swarming the walls he'd tried to put up like a tsunami. His hands began shaking violently as he pulled his knees even closer to his chest, closing his eyes as tight as they would go. There wasn't a lot of things to be happy about in this new, horrible world, but Wade never ceased to bring joy to him anytime he was around. It had been over a week or so since Wade had died and Jac hadn't even cracked a grin, not even to Forrest Gump.

Name: Orion

Age: 35

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Straight

Appearance: Sandy blond hair that's grown out, tanned skin, blue eyes, tall. Normally has a bit of a grin. Gives off California boy vibes. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/811773901573797187/

Usual Outfit: Anything from a t-shirt to a button up paired with casual pants. Rarely wears jeans.

Personality: He can be grave and quiet, but when he opens up he can have a lot of fun with anyone, liking to joke about how absolutely amazing he is even though he is actually pretty humble.

Likes: Caramels, 70s pop, cool looking suits, good times with friends, whistling, the beach, barbecue.

Dislikes: Traitors, people who don't keep promises. Anyone who is willing to step on somebody else.

Powers: Body manipulation. He can make himself taller or stronger or make himself younger or older.

Fears: Failing anyone he wishes to protect. Heights to a certain extent.

Other: This is crappy but I'm tired.

Arin sat on the floor of their room, wedged between the wall and their bed. This was their preferred spot when things got overwhelming and so there they sat, clicking away at their laptop and the light of the screen lighting up their face, showing the heavy bags under their eyes. They knew they should be there for the others, but they just couldn't move. If they had even a minute where they weren't busy, they would remember what had happened. Arin didn't want to remember.

"You need to get up Arin. At least eat something." Mal said, breaking the quiet of the room. As always, their speech echoed in Arin's mind.

"Don't want to," Arin muttered, voice hoarse and cracking. "It's my fault, why should I do anything to help myself when one of my best friends are dead."

Kuro was frozen. Staring at Jac as he broke down made the raw mass of grief in her chest hurt so bad she wanted to double over and scream. But she remained still, jaw flexing harshly as her eyes prickled with unshed tears. Unconsciously, Kuro's left arm snaked it's way around her stomach, as if hugging herself would keep her from falling apart completely. It offered no comfort to herself. As always.

But Jac–he needed something….Arin too…probably upstairs in the darkness of their room fretting over what had happened, but Kuro was not the type to give comfort. Hell when was the last time she had smiled? Much less given a hug or a word of encouragement. But they needed it, her team, and they needed it from her.

Especially since command wasn't going to bench them forever. Today's meeting had been to give her squad a new mission and they needed to perform or else they'd all die. Kuro sighed through her nose…and there was the matter of the new guy…

Pushing those thoughts from her mind, Kuro gently reached out to gently brush the back of Jac's hand with the pads of her fingers and the part of her palm that wasn't covered by her sleeves. This was the best she could do. Jac looked up at her in surprise and those blues of her's burned like ice. Kuro wasn't sure how long she left her fingers there, trying to comfort her last childhood friend as best she could, when a chiming sounded from somewhere in the house.

Shit. The new guy would be here soon. Kuro pulled her hand back, finger's deftly signing as she stood. I'm going to check on Arin. Relax a little, okay? I– A pause as her fingers froze, although she disguised the motion as her reaching for her sunglasses. I need you at your best.

Orion stood at the door, a little wary. He had been confused when the recruiting officers had come to his home, even more confused when he met the other recruits. He knew that they weren't many people like him, but that was the first time he had been in a room full of them. They had been told what their purpose was. One of them was going to be selected to participate in tests and that one of them would be chosen to be a new part of the protectors of New U.S. One of the superhumans in the room, a young woman, had spoken up and asked the question they were all thinking. What about the Patriots? The officer in charge had broken the news to the assembly, but begged them to keep it quiet. After a few days, Orion had been chosen.
He didn't really know what they saw in him. But he was more than willing to do his duty to his country. So ever so slowly, he raised his hand, and rang the bell to the door that would change his life forever.

"It's a male, blond hair, blue eyes," Mal informed Arin, having left the coder when the doorbell rang. Arin looked up and made 'eye contact' with Mal. "Should I go welcome him? He's probably someone's lackey or something." They muttered, drawing a blanket that was wrapped around them closer. Arin was somewhat aware of how shitty they looked, honestly, they didn't care.

"You should try not to scare him with how horrible you look. He might think you're a zombie." Mal teased, they knew this was a good distraction for Arin. Arin needed a distraction.

Arin did honestly look like a zombie, their black hair was a mess, they had deep bags under their eyes, they were paler than usual. Along with the blanket wrapped around their shoulders (It was from… His room.), they looked like a grade-A mess.

"Shove off, you can stay up here if you want. I'm grabbing my cane… Wherever it is." They had gotten a bit disorganized, could you blame them?

Eventually, they found their cane and made their way down to the door, opening it. "Hello, how can I help you?"

(Sorry, guys, I didn't have my computer all weekend)

Jac's head tilted as the bell sounded, his frown lightening slightly. The new guy must be here. A small ball of excitement gathered in his chest as he wiped his eyes clear of tears and stood up. After a quick glance down at his shirt, he stripped it off and picked up one without as many bloodstains in the fabric from the floor. Most of the clothes on the ground were clean, but he still did a quick smell test. Everything checked out, so he pulled the shirt on over his head.

The new guy's here, he signed to Kuro, who had been watching his sudden mood change with unabashed confusion. Arin's voice downstairs only managed to brighten his mood even further. They were on their feet. Arin is up too.

They both walked downstairs side by side, since the staircase for the house was wide enough for it. Jac's recovery from his sadness was impressive, but the lingering signs on his face showed that it wasn't really gone. His shoulders were slumped slightly, the bags under his eyes were still deep, and his usual smile seemed to have loosed half an inch. Things hadn't really changed, only pushed aside so he could focus for a while.

"Howdy!" he said cheerfully, poking his head into the doorway as well.

Arin had simply nodded to Jac, they couldn't see anything, but they had known Jac for a while. He was pretty beat up inside, they all were. "Who's he and why is he here?" Arin asked their teammate, voice tired. They leaned against their cane, not really what it was for, but it would hold. Arin had gotten some help making it strong, a weapon he could keep by himself for if Mal wasn't around.

"Hey," Orion said, his hand twisting uncomfortably a little. Normally he would go through any door like he owned the place, but this didn't seem the right place. It was obvious by the subconscious chill in the air, the weariness that hung invisible on their shoulders. They were grieving. "I'm Orion, selected for the… replacement of your fallen friend." He paused a little on the word friend. Who knew how they would accept him. They were the Patriots after all. But right now they looked nothing like the bold, daring posters that were around the capital city.

Arin grew quieter than normal, whispering to themself. "Why are they replacing him? We need him." Their neutral look had started to take the form of barely contained anger. It wasn't anger at anyone specifically, just, anger at the world for being so unfair. They took in a deep breath and straightened their back before turning to 'stare' right into Orion's eyes. Arin knew that their stare made people uncomfortable, who would want a blind person to look into them. "I'm Arin Gold. You are not him, don't try to be him. If you make a wrong move I will make sure you can't step into a single home without the roof crashing down on you. I will make sure that while you're walking, you trip and bash your head on a rock."
They did not break their stare.
"I'll personally stab you."
And with that, they were done, a scowl on their face.
Welp, Arin never was the most welcoming person. They kept up appearances, of course. If they had to go out to face the public they always had a small smile on their face.

Orion held his ground, not one easily intimidated. "I am here by orders only. I do not mean to be replacing anybody." He sighed internally. He didn't blame Arin, but he had hoped for a little more of a welcome. At least a lack of any hostility.

Jac winced at Arin's reaction, but he couldn't say he didn't expect it. Hell, half of the time Arin wasn't nice to him, so it made since they would react so aggressively. Even with that, they were still being unfair to Orion.

"Sorry," Jac mumbled apologetically, sliding back from the door to give Orion enough space to come into their home. "We're all still…..well, still pretty fucked up. But….." He suddenly realized he didn't have a 'but' response for the rest of the sentence, so he let it trail off as Orion walked into the home.

"Well, uh, I'm Jac," he said, patting himself on the chest. "This is our commander, Kuro. She's deaf, so you gotta make sure she'd looking at you or you won't get a response. Typically I'm around to translate, though. And this is Arin." he put a light hand on their shoulder, "they're the brains of this place."