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He smiled at her gasp, her wonderment, it made him feel proud of his abilities. His mutation was like magic to a lot of people, especially when he left out details, the cold hard facts behind it. "Yeah, it's pretty awesome huh."he agreed. Neat wasn't the best word he had heard for it, but it was good enough. He wasn't about to take it for granted.

"So it is just a shell? Like, a pretty outside, but nothing inside? Or is it the whole package?"

He grinned further at the questions. "The whole package. Heart, brain, guts, it's all there. Even the spiracles on the abdomen."he said pointing with a gentle finger, "Though unfortunately, all that doesn't make them real animals. They don't need to eat or sleep. They have me to do that for them." He went back to eating what food was left. It had gone cold by now but he still needed the energy, so it would be worth it.

"I've spent the last couple of years working at it but it barely feels like I scratched the surface."he grinned, "With some luck I might be able to completely cut the cord and have the constructs be totally separate from me."

Started writing the three year journey, first post/chapter is up here. Expect more over time. :3

(OOC: This is an expansion on Alex's backstory, since in the profile I didn't go into too great of detail as to the journey that took him from Kuna, ID to New York, NY. Hope you enjoy.)



        Alex stopped reading there and closed out the tab. There was no point in continuing to look at it. It was going to say just about the same as every other article about mutants. Dangerous, threatening, the outsiders, others. It didn’t matter, it was all the same on every site. What was he going to do? In this small place, living in a crowded house, how much longer could he hide his mutation? How much longer before his foster mother demanded he explain his comings and goings?

        He leaned his head against the desk and tried to think, forcing himself not to flinch as one of the librarians walked past the computer stations. There were no other mutants in town as far as he knew, so he couldn’t ask anyone in real life. And if he told any of the kids at school or at home they would definitely blab. Stuff like this would spread like wildfire. He lifted his head to look at the computer. If he couldn’t talk to anybody here, then surely he could connect with someone online. There had to be someone out there who could tell him what to do.

        It took a bit of searching, finding an appropriate board where he could pose questions to other mutants anonymously. Hopefully, someone on here could help him.


        He frowned at the small amount of text, wondering if it would be enough to garner good answers. But he didn’t know what else to say that wouldn’t give away too many details about his life or have people think it was just looking for attention. That he was some charity case that needed looking after or in the case of the internet, an outright liar. Yeah, little orphan boy living with mean old foster parent. Like that was believable, his life was one huge cliché that the media had beaten to death long before he was born. It made his ears burn just thinking about it.

        Still, he posted what he had and hoped for the best before logging out. He’d return to the site later to see if he had gotten any good answers. For now, he’d focus on his work. Earlier in the week he had gone with his class to listen to a lecture on birds of prey up in Nampa. If he could memorize how one was constructed he might be able to make one of his own. It’d be perfect for scouting and potentially he’d never get lost again.

        With this in mind, he almost completely forgot about his post until a week later. Apparently, it had been enough to get plenty of replies. People asked all sorts of questions, his age, where he lived, his home situation, that sort of stuff. Some merely told him to remain strong and keep his powers secret. Maybe talk to a friend or find another understanding relative to live with. Still others told him to screw hiding, to be open with his gift, and not to let others push him around.


        That one was interesting in particular as the guy didn’t only talk big but listed a bunch of survival sites. How to build fires, make shelters, and prepare wild game, all sorts of things one would need to know about living in the wild. Everything one would need to know if they wanted to separate from society. He didn’t know if he wanted that, if it would be worth it to run away after all. Because if he did get caught that means they would want an explanation.

        Still, it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared. If the time ever came, when he no longer had a choice, he’d do as this guys suggested. However, for now he’d try and keep this a secret as long as possible, living life as he normally did and on the side he’d practice these things, along with his mutation.

        So on it went. Normalcy; summer, school, and practice in between all of it. He even saved up his money for an emergency stash. Which he promptly blew on a bike. He told himself it was an investment. Something he would need in case he had to get out of town fast. He couldn’t drive yet after all. It was the next best thing.

        Holidays came and flew by, Halloween had been particularly fun scaring people with spiders and rats in lockers and such, and by Christmas, he had perfected a few species of birds from around town. The red-tailed hawk was his favorite and with it, he never got lost, just as he predicted. By the time spring came around, he had nearly forgotten about running away, about the looming threat of being discovered.

        Then one of the other kids he was living with told him the news. “We’re going to be going to the hospital in a week to get tested for mutation.” Kelly told him, standing in the emptying school hallway, looking uncomfortable talking to him even though nobody could see.

        Classes were ending, people were gearing up for vacation and he was hearing about this. “Tested? Why?”He asked this while trying to remain calm, like his world wasn’t about to fall down on top of him.

        “I dunno. Mrs. Mabel just said that she wanted to be sure. Just thought you’d ought to know, since you hate going to the doctor and all.” Kelly shifted her backpack and glanced down the hall to where her friends had rounded the corner. “Anyway, I’ll see you back at the house. Try not to stay out too late.”

        Alex watched her go, containing his panic until she was out of eye sight before bolting down the opposing hallway. He needed to make a plan, he needed to gather supplies, map his way. He only had a week before he was definitely found out. He couldn’t let himself be found out!

"It's nice to meet you Shelby." At the mention of Ace hunting for him, he glanced from her to the bird and back again. Mulling over how he should explain this without going into a lot of detail."Thing is...I'm kinda homeless right now, so I don't exactly have the funds to get food. That and since I tend to travel a lot I'm used to hunting and cooking my own food. The city is a different type of hunting ground."he chuckled.

"Usually Ace would bring a rabbit or fish if we're near a lake or something. But there's little more than pigeons around here. Guess that's why Ace went for the easy pray and stole some food instead."he sighed. He looked at his lap, petting Pick and Pocket again. "You said you don't mind life stories so long as they aren't dumb right? Mind if I regale ya with mine? It's been forever since I've had a proper conversation."

He was kind of hopeful for one. Thinking back, maybe the last time he had a good long talk with someone was a trucker going from Ohio to Kentucky. And that only happened because they were stuck in traffic for forever. This was something else though. Shelby at least seemed genuinely interested for the time being.

He shrugged when she didn't agree to eat with him but he did motion for her to sit at least. "Well Ace does a lot of his own hunting, so yeah I guess well fed is the right answer."he murmured setting Pocket on his lap with Pick, petting him in an absent-minded manner.

At the question about the food delivery he laughed. "Well it's no different than teaching a hawk to hunt other birds or rabbits. Honestly I was a little surprised by the meal. He must have stole it from somebody at a drive-thru."he chuckled. "I would take it back but I don't know where it came from so. I might as well eat it, right? It'd be a waste."

"Ace has been my companion for the last...oh three years...so it was difficult to get him to do anything at first. Now I don't even need any gear. Totally hands free."he said wiggling his fingers. On this hot day he was just in a t-shirt and jeans so his arms and hands were bare. Yet there were no scratches from the hawk's talons, not even scars. And Ace had no tags or bells or anything on him either, nothing to indicate he was owned.

Some of this was fabricated to look like he had a normal relationship with these animals. That they were pets and nothing more. He knew Ace didn't appreciate it. The longer the bird had his own body the more independent and intelligent it was becoming. Where that would lead only time would tell. But for now it just acted as a smarter than average hawk.

Alex paused in his meal, there was someone nearby, hiding it looked like from what Pocket was seeing. He debated a moment on what he was doing. He could call them out but he didn't want to seem aggressive or to scare them away. If anything a curious on looker could be an opportunity. So feigned a yawn and went back to eating, allowing Ace to pick at his food. While letting a construct eat was nothing but a waste of good food it would at least make Ace seem more like a real animal.

As he took a bite of the first burger he instructed Pocket to interact with the girl, get under foot as it were. It might scare her out of hiding or perhaps get her curious enough to make herself known. He had Pick come back and sit in his lap, nibbling at his food as well, allowing her to see the similarities between the rat at her feet and the one on his lap.

He really hoped he wouldn't have to call her out. That would just be annoying.