maskormenace | Second Song | Video Mirrornet

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Second Song | Video Mirrornet

[ The video comes on with a flicker, a boy obviously early to mid teens at best sits on a stump looking at the camera. Clearly not not dressing like many others here. He's not looking to fit into the society here, not unless it affords him some fun or what he needs.

He wants to be himself, after all. He will not be shaped or moulded as someone so clearly pointed out to him by this land's expectations.

For now though, he appears to be inquisitive, a curious look on his face as he rolls an apple in his hand.]

Tell me, what do you believe is the most powerful thing of all?

[He says it rather casually despite how odd a question it would seem from a boy.]

Humour me. After the ordeal that some of us have endured a distraction would be welcomed.

[ He touches his expression with nothing more than what appears to be a small shadow of sadness across his face. Something to give his audience to cling to, to feel sympathy for. ]

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Would you? All right.

[ He says it with nothing more than a smile. A hand he raises and he makes a small gesture to the ground and telekinetically he cleaves the earth in two, the cut being far larger and deeper than Tetsuo's.

Then he lowers it, raising a brow to Tetsuo. That better for you, punk? ]

[What. WHAT?! That's not fair! That's not fair at all. He was banking on this kid not being able to flat out do that, let alone show him up.]

...

[This time, he's not smiling. He grits his teeth, channeling frustration, growing rage and searing pain all together into one more strike against that poor, poor back alley that no one's going to be able to safely drive through for a good while now. It's a lot more powerful this time, with enough force to throw debris a fair distance from him.

This time, his not even aimed strike hits a wall, smashing into it hard and leaving a dent.

Tetsuo's visibly panting from the effort and he can almost see his heartbeat throb in black lines across his eyes but he doesn't care. All that matters is if he did more than that stupid kid did. He's going to win this, whatever this is.]

[ And you know what Tetsuo? Peter looks more unimpressed than he was before. Tetsuo's attitude reminds Peter of the evil queen. Throwing magic about and letting her rage take over. Such an unsightly and ineffective use of magic, of power.

However, Peter remains completely unhurt by Tetsuo's power, a barrier he formed in front of himself to protect against any of the residual energy. His observations are made though, he reads the weakness he feels off Tetsuo now finally being close enough to steal the boy's secrets.

Abandonment, self doubt, anger. All easily exploitable. ]

You lack control.

[ He steps around the mess kicking broken bits of concrete from his way before he steps in front of Tetsuo. His eyes full of feigned sympathy, as he reaches out to rest a hand on Tetsuo's shoulder for but a moment. ]

But, I understand why. It must be hard, having to deal with people who don't understand how truly gifted you are. Being treated horribly because you're special, because you're better than them.

[Suspicion flashes across Tetsuo's face, quickly masked by a guarded glare as the kid draws close. He's primed to act; he can feel the power raging through his head until it feels like he's breathing solid gasoline. As the kid reaches out, there's a very real second where he could attack.

He doesn't understand what it is that keeps him rooted to the spot. What makes him barely even flinch away from the contact. Until he realizes what, exactly, this kid's saying.

This guy ... this guy just might get it.

And slowly, the rage shifts off his face to something a little more receptive. Yeah.. that's right. He is special; he has to be. Kaneda doesn't see it; none of the Capsules ever gave him a chance to show them what he could do. Kaneda's still acting like an asshole - and it's not fair that Kaneda's here, too. It's not fair that Kaneda also gets powers - he has to have them, everyone here does.]

Just you watch. I'll show them what I can really do someday.

[ He has the fish on the hook, now all he has to do is begin to reel it in. The bait he's laid is tasty and seductive. It should be mildly simple if the other can keep his emotions in check. ]

And you know what? I really believe you can.

However-

[ He steps beside Tetsuo, hand still on the boy's shoulder to continue to comfort, to support as Peter gestures to the destruction about them. ]

You need control. Master your abilities and you can do great things. You have a gift and your emotions control that gift. I can show you how with nothing but yourself.

[Tetsuo's breathing's still ragged, though he's starting to get it back under control now. On the one hand, this jerk asked to see what he could do and immediately did it better just to make him look like an idiot. On that same hand, Tetsuo doesn't need help. He figured this out on his own. He did his own experiments and - well, just look at what he did!

He's sure that with time, he can master this himself.

But.. then there's Kaneda. Who also has got to have powers, though Tetsuo doesn't know what they are. Who's always been infuriatingly better than him at everything he tries. Who decided he could start picking on Tetsuo the second he got here for no reason with nonsense accusations. Kaneda, who's been nothing but a confusing enigma of conflicting actions ever since he got here.

Kaneda can't be better than him at this. This is the first time Tetsuo's had anything he could do on his own, and he's not going to let him ruin this.

So does he have that time to master it, or is he impatient enough to deign to let someone else demean him by pointing out how much farther he has to go? Decisions, decisions. It's an infuriatingly hard call.]

You think I can't figure it out myself?

[ Whatever's left in that little head of Tetsuo's isn't very smart. Snubbing Pan came with a price after all. Enemies with someone who had more control, more power than this boy could really imagine. But, he's a patient player of the game, he can win this.

A few more well placed and sympathetic words is all he needs. ]

I think you could, but imagine how long that might take you. Playing a game of guessing to see what works and what happens if it blows up in your face? Do you really want people to see you fail and having to explain you're still "figuring it out"? Or would you rather come out and show them your full potential? Your mastery of the craft.

[ He leans into whisper in Tetsuo's ear ]

Or would you rather a certain someone else learn from another imPort and master his abilities far more quickly than you could on your own?

[That first argument hits a little closer to home than he wants to admit. First impressions are a lot, he knows that. He's been trying for most of his life to shake off being seen as nothing more than a little kid, and screwing up in front of everyone... No, he doesn't want that

That second one, however... Tetsuo's eyes widen, then narrow dangerously. But it's not aimed at the kid this time; he's not even looking at his direction.

He doesn't say it, not directly. He doesn't have to - more importantly, he's not willing to hear himself say it out loud, not here. He's got an appearance to keep up, after all... Still, then and there he knows it: he'll do whatever it takes to win. And if that means this, then for now, fine. He'll try this training thing until it bores him.]

I wasn't doin' much today anyway. Why not.

[ Wrapped around his finger.

Hardly even a challenge this one.

A smile spreads on Peter's face, as he lets his hand slide from Tetsuo's shoulder. He won't physically burden Tetsuo with his grip, he needs the other to believe he's a free agent after all. ]

You won't regret this.

[ He lifts his hand to Tetsuo, offering it for a handshake. ]

You can call me Peter or Peter Pan if you wish.

[Handshake accepted after only a slight hesitation. He only sort of regrets it.]

Tetsuo. Shima Tetsuo.

The arcade's my turf, so you can find me around here.

You've certainly made your mark on it.

However, I think we should have our lessons somewhere more secluded. We wouldn't want authority figures to come and spoil our fun.

Whatever. You got somewhere in mind?

The forest outside of Nonah.

I don't feel like walking that far.

[He's not bitter about not having a bike anymore. Not at all.]

You don't have to. Just take my hand, close your eyes and picture the forest coming to you.

[ And he offers his hand to Tetsuo. Come on, you know you want to take it. ]

[This stinks of metaphorical meditation bullshit. He rolls his eyes, but does roughly grab Peter's hand. In his mind, it's just humoring someone who's rapidly getting annoying - if this is a load of nonsense, he'll prove it here and now.
Peter's got about three seconds to do something impressive, or Tetsuo's out of here.]

This better not be a waste of my time.

[ And in a blink, the alley around them vanishes, the sounds of cars and the guttural city noise dies away replaced by a forest clearing with the music of nature all about them. Peter lets go, not saying a word just offering a smile to Tetsuo.

Lets see what he thinks about that. ]

Hunh?!

[Tetsuo lets go a lot more slowly, turning around in a disbelieving circle. He doesn't seem to be clear if he's really seeing this, or this is all in his head.

He snaps a twig off of a nearby tree; that sure seems real. So does the leaf he crushes between his fingers. He lets it drop, turning back to Peter. That kid definitely just teleported both of them - and how come he doesn't even seem to feel it?

One thing's for sure - Tetsuo's definitely listening now.]

So you can do that, too...

Edited 2015-07-30 17:54 (UTC)

And so much more, but I merely guided you. Getting here is in no small part thanks to you.

[ Yeah, no, he's totally bullshitting this kid. But, he's sure a little praise here and there and letting Tetsuo believe some of these feats are actually his doing may help. ]

I wasn't playing around when I said I could help you become a master of your craft. We're the same, you and I. People wanted to pull my dreams away too, eat them up until there was nothing left. But, I didn't want to be a victim anymore and I want to help so you never have to feel that way again.

[ He tilts his head curiously to Tetsuo. ]

So, are you willing to let me teach you? [ Giving the boy an illusion of a choice felt needed. Peter's sure he won't need to say anything else or do anything else to hear a yes from Tetsuo. ]

Edited 2015-07-30 18:03 (UTC)

[Some part of him deep down doesn't like this, but the small shreds of caution are quickly drowned out by the siren song of more power. Of not needing anyone ever again after this. Even though it's a small sting to his pride to rely on someone now, that isn't gonna be for long, is it?

Nah, of course not. He's got this.]

Yeah. I'm in.

[ The seduction of power is such a tantilizing thing. Offering it to someone so weak and pitiful always gets the results needed. Rumple fell for that lure, Regina, the broken always search for a way to never feel weak again.

And regardless of what Tetsuo thinks to the contrary, Peter has won. This boy, for all intensive purposes belongs to Peter now. After all, Pan never fails. ]

There is however, one condition to this deal. You can never tell anyone I'm teaching you. We wouldn't want them getting jealous about how great you've gotten and trying to ruin our lessons now, would we?

Fair?

As if I'd say anything. I'm no rat.

Then lets begin, Tetsuo.

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Second Song | Video Mirrornet

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