School's Not Out for the Summer
Summer 2021, Week 4
Thursday morning
NV High School, Old Towne
Storyteller
The bright sun that shined upon New Victoria High School. A rather generic looking place, though the shining sun soon sat behind a cloud, the fluffy cotton esque shapes dotting the sky, making the shining inconsistent, just like the emotions of the people who had been living in the city. Looking down into the school, it was almost barren, except for one classroom, a teacher who would much rather be spending time with her family trapped by a group of people that were failing to understand why they even needed summer classes, some wagged, some just aren't built for a school enviroment, and some just didn't care.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
Outside in the small parking lot, the familiar straining hum of Aloysius's black corvette stopped as he parked lazily partway on the curb. Beneath the strong, handsome faced teenagers oak brown eyes, two large bags of darkness and beneath that a yawning mouth that is interrupted by a burger being slammed down then followed by a shitty coffee in a crappy fast food cup. Before the door opened and the teen made his way inside. Everyone who was already there a bit early stared at him as if he wasn't Aloysius, after all, last they saw him he was a thinner teen, he only stood at about 5'7" with a thin frame and an anger management issue. After a few seconds of silent staring it was broken by his yawn as he lazily sat down. "It's Aloy. I've had a growth spurt." Everyone nodded as if they hadn't actually expected he would come to class. Mainly because he hadn't. Either way a paper with some problems was laid out in front of him and he got to work.......... Well he stared into the paper tiredly as his brain basically shut off. The words and numbers infront of him meaningless.C឵lyde Adams
This is stupid. I shouldn't have to attend a stupid set of classes just because American school systems are different from back home. It's all meaningless, anyway. Clyde seethed in their seat as Neera drove them to class, lecturing them that they need to be on their best behavior, get these classes out of the way, and to try and be sociable. They just drowned her out, what was the point in listening, anyway? She was just going to leave them here as soon as they could take care of themselves, anyway. They exited the Dodge Caravan, Neera wishing them a good day, and begging them to 'please try not to get expelled on the first day'. "Sure." Was the sarcastic one-worded reply of choice before shutting the door and walking to the doors of the school building, their knapsack slung over their shoulder and looking down to avoid any eye contact. This would be their first week in attending summer classes, and they already had so much to catch up on for missed time for having just come to the city. They made their way to the classroom number they were assigned for this period, and almost too quietly made their way to a desk along the side of the room, somewhat close to the back. Hell, they already have problems for me. Joy.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
Aloysius stuck out like a sore thumb, thanks to his height, his broad shoulders, the confused as fuck stare down he was giving the paper, and a few students giving him sideways glances. He looked physically like a generic dumb jock in a hoodie and some jeans both covered in old oil stains, and the fact he was in summer school to catch up probably helped the new student make any assumptions they wanted. "Fuck." Aloy looked around for the teacher who was still handing out the problems and scanned the room an exhausted expression across his face, one familiar to literally any student across the world. One of numerous all nighters studying or just unable to sleep. He locked eyes with the new student his expression of exhausted questioning. Clyde could almost literally see the cogs turning in his head. okay, nope, I uhhh wait do I? Think think... Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
.
Shit do I know them? I don't think so?
C឵lyde Adams
Normally they'd ignore the world around them, but seeing this tall guy struggling to stay awake made him smirk a little bit, and made their voice appear as if they were whispering in Aloy's ear, their lips moving in time with the words. "Careful, mate. I can almost see smoke coming out your ears, you're thinking so hard."[Sound Manipulation, Basic x1, -0EP]
Like they had any room to judge; the baggage beneath their eyes had the attention drawn away only by a darker periwinkle eyeshadow that made their amber eyes stand out. Their outfit of choice was somewhat thrown together, a dark pair of jeans accompanied by a black turtlenecked, long sleeved shirt.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
Aloy stared daggers back at Clyde, raising his hand almost as if he was going to dismissively wave or wave like he was meeting an old friend before his fingers curled back. But two stood out, the middle finger, and the thumb. This bird flipping was complimented by an exhausted smile as Aloy whispered. "Uhuh, least I'm trying."C឵lyde Adams
They smiled lazily at the gesture, to them it was almost a sort of greeting amongst the people they called friends back home. They almost felt sorry for the guy for giving them such a lazy comeback. Almost. "A for effort, I guess. Though if you needed help with something, you just need to ask. Maybe not me, though." They add with a wink to accompany their lazy smile. "Kinda just started today, and I don't think algebra is gonna be useful outside the classroom."Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
Aloy gave them a cheeky grin as his hand rested down onto the paper. It was clear the teen was exhausted and honestly kinda done with this summer school shit. “Well, most people who are in here either ain’t the helping type, or I’ve fought them so really my options are pretty thin.” Aloysius smiled back, he vibes with this person, well better then literally everyone else…..being the type who tried to beat up bullies left him with a reputation he couldn’t help. “Oh no every speed sign is actually algebra. You gotta work it out.” He sarcastically jested.C឵lyde Adams
"Is that so? I suppose next I'll learn that Americans use quantum physics to make eagles into doughnuts." They joked right back, snickering quietly. "I suppose we'll be in the dark together, eh? Considering your options are me, selfish pricks or people that I can only guess deserved a smackdown. Name's Clyde." They try to stifle a yawn from being up too early, especially for the bullshit that was algebraic expressions.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
"You didn't know that? It's like our main thing. Well into burgers usally it's only the cops that make doughnuts." Aloy gave a tired half snicker at his own comment, shrugging to the new person. "Yeah, well I don't always win....usually lose actually. Names Aloysius, call my Aloy or Ally either doesn't bother me." Aloy stretched out his body, his bones audibly creaking a bit. "I'm probably gonna fail. Only thing that's carrying me to graduation at the current moment is shop class."C឵lyde Adams
They nod. Aloysius, huh? Probably just stick with Aloy. He seems to be the biggest guy so far, and he's pretty tolerable, as far as I can tell. Definitely be a good person to have my back. "Maybe I can help with that. Thankfully I am okay enough with things to get by, I just hate doing the whole 'show your work' business. Like, I'd just be showing how they taught me to solve the problem; why waste the time?" Stifling another yawn, they add, "Point is, I'll try to help you at least pass this shit so it's done and over with." A scratch-your-back, you-scratch-mine scenario.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
“I’ll accept the help but it’ll be like trying to help a preschooler do….this.” Aloy lazily gestured to the paper in front of him. “Like why the fuck are there letters in maths now? And what’s this hypotenuse thing?” There was genuine pained confusion in Aloy’s voice. He wasn’t an idiot, he just didn’t learn like the system needed him too. Probably didn’t help his mind was racing. God I can’t even do maths yet I’m meant to help save people, god I suck at everything. Why can’t I just be a stupid normal kid, but I just had to be an evo.C឵lyde Adams
"Thankfully shapes are a bit easier because you can actually see the-"Storyteller
Clyde is cut off with a stern "Ahem" from the front of the classroom. "Mr. Adams, you may save your conversation for after class."C឵lyde Adams
At the mere mention of Mr, their expression changes for a brief moment to that of anger, then a forced smile. "Just Clyde will do, miss. No need for such a binary formality. And with all due respect, I was helping you do your job for you." They spoke with a saccharine sweetness that was laced with venom.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
Aloy cocked his head softly to the side. Clyde and everyone else could see the cogs turning slowly in his head. Creaking as he thought long and hard before you could almost see a literal light bulb and heard a soft yet understanding . "ohhhhhhhhhhh.” Aloy’s attention quickly slid over to the teacher who has so rudely interrupted his learning. “Yeah miss no offence they're better then you at explaining. Why don't you go help the others or, quietly sit at the front and regret your life choices?" Aloy casually stretched out as he said this and slid his chair and table back a bit looking to Clyde. "Sorry bout that, if you wanna keep explaining I'll try to listen."Storyteller
Positively fuming, the teacher forces a fake smile, and simply replies the the duo, "Then you two will have more than enough time to work on these problems in detention. And.. Clyde.. If you would like to step up and teach the class, the floor is all yours. You can teach the class all about finding the sine, cosine and tangents of a right triangle, can't you?"C឵lyde Adams
They glower, but say nothing in response. They admittedly knew nothing about finding those, let alone enough to actually teach someone. "No, thank you." They quietly mutter.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
“Fuckin’ bitch.” Aloy muttered under his breath, the grip on his borrowed pencil tightening, no strangling the pencil the pressure building up a small cracking sound meekly crying out before he stopped and starting drawing on the page. I got more important shit then your detention…Y'know, I gotta fucking learn all this shit, hell I should check in on Vic when I get the chance, we still need to train.....gotta find a gym too so much to fucking do...Storyteller
"All right, then. Now, in order to find..." The teacher would continue to drone for the remainder of the class, the day continuing on in a long, boring fashion.Storyteller
After classes were finished, the duo were assigned detention to take place the following week.C឵lyde Adams
While waiting for Neera to arrive, they spotted Aloy heading to his car, but made no effort to wave him down or grab his attention. Surely he's got places to be and things to do. They thought as the familiar Dodge Caravan came into view. They put on their best 'nothing is wrong' face and steeled themselves for the verbal assault that awaited them.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
The young man had lucked out, aka he didn't need to patrol for a few more hours, and he could postpone fixing the car again. His stomach grumbled with a pained hunger, Aloy needed to eat and didn't know how to cook, he had basically ignored the teachers threat of detention and literally waved her off. Seeing his new partner in crime Aloy didn't walk over but waved as he sat onto the hood of his car. "Hey you hungry? I'm starving. I could literally eat a horse." He offered as the dodge caravan pulled up he gave a sigh. "I'll leave ya be if you don't wanna chat. Though the offer still stands if you wanna join instead of joining whoever is in the car."C឵lyde Adams
They smile and give a single wave back, and shouts "Just a tick." Thankful for the opportunity to at least postpone breaking the news to Neera about getting in trouble, they explain to her that they want to get some food and hang out with a new guy they met in school. As the Caravan drives away, they saunter over to Aloy. "Sure, I could go for something to eat. What did you have in mind?" Their own stomach rumbles quietly, but they try to pay it no mind.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
Huh, a smile. I reckon I'm getting them outta trouble. Aloy smiled and nodded back as he spun the keys around his hand and opened the car door before he turned the ignition. The cars so lifelike hum brought to life. "Well, I know a few fast food places, you got any preferences? and I'll get the smalltalk outta the way, where are ya from? What brought ya here? and what are ya pronous?"C឵lyde Adams
"What, you don't want to leave a little bit of mystery?" They reply sarcastically. "Though, I suppose I should at least let you know those little tidbits. First answer: I'm not too picky, but burgers, chips and a diet cola is a favorite of mine." "Second answer: I'm from Wales. Probably why I've got the dodgy accent, eh? Third answer... Well... Sanctuary. You can probably guess why." Their slight smile recedes into a blank, morose expression. "Especially with my little trick I showed earlier." "As for my pronouns, they, them and their work just fine." They raise their eyebrow, quizzically asking "How about you? I understand if you'd rather keep that to yourself."Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
“Everyone else was gonna bug you bout those questions anyway. Best you answer them with me so we can review.” He chuckled a bit at his own statement as the seatbelt zipped down and clicked into place as he backed up off the curb. “Sorry, I must have fucked up the parking. I’m usually a good driver.” He quickly defended as he pulled a bag of fast food trash from his dash and threw it into the back of the black corvette. It’s engine barely humming until he stepped on the accelerator. “Alright I know a burger place that’s good. Wales never been there does explain the accent though. I’m from here born and raised, though my mother’s side moved here from Kyoto. That’s in Japan.” The teens expression turned a bit sour at the mention of sanctuary. Oh god I gotta break the news. “So I got some good news, bad news, and worse news. The good news is, you’ve found a pro-Evo, non Evo buddy!” Aloy made some fun fake fanfare noises to help distract from the rest. “But bad news there was a fight in the wards last week that has got everyone screaming anti-Evo. It was pretty bad, but I think they did well….Worse news is that this might no longer be a sanctuary in a few weeks. EHEA basically our ICE for Evo’s has been poking around. So it’s probably best to keep the Evo thing on the down low for now. As for pronouns I’m he slash him. People round here should respect that but if they don’t call me and I’ll fix em right up with a whack.”C឵lyde Adams
They don't say anything about the trash, just a smirk with a coy, "What? People here actually park decent?" They point to the ceiling, where they have the roof of the car exclaim in a game show host's voice "Shocker!" Before reluctantly pulling the seat belt across themselves and clicking the buckle.[Sound Generation, Basic x1, -0EP]
"Well, I suppose it's good to have someone that knows this concrete jungle on my side. Though that's interesting. Kyoko.. huh." Their expression quickly becomes flat, and they grow quiet for a moment before softly commenting, "Knew it was too good to be true. People just can't get past the whole 'freak evo' thing, can they?"Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
“Most don’t but I’m the exception, just been exhausted.” Aloy listened to the voice and chuckled awkwardly the car beginning to speed it’s way down the street. “Yeah, they can’t. I mean I understand some of the concern given how much damage blood bolt did but, blood bolts a bad apple in a batch of good varied people. It’s stupid generalisation and if AERI didn’t step in we woulda had a lot more deaths, hell non-AERI evo’s risked their lives to try and help. Victory almost died I heard.” Aloy sighed as he spaced out for a second, his body driving on auto pilot as the road in front of him stretched out further and further. Eventually all he could see is the rough ground of Henry before a golden hand hits it and he’s reliving the moment again. Fuck you golden fuckwit you better live. Aloy shook his head and looked to the radio turning it up a bit. “Uh anyway Yeah Kyoto. I’ve never been. I think my grandfather might’ve been Yakuza…” Aloy followed up with an awkward chuckle to try and lighten the mood. It failed.C឵lyde Adams
"I'm just.. glad that I can blend in easy. Kinda. It sounds like a lot of shit happened, but it's like you said. A bad apple in a bunch, but people think they're all rotten. But it's not like shit like that didn't happen before evos were known about, either." Taking a momentary break from dwelling on the bad news, they notice that Aloy is zoning out. "Yakuza?" Clyde only knew vaguely what they were. Gangsters, I think? "Sounds pretty crazy." Their comment seemed devoid of enthusiasm, almost an automatic and flat response. They didn't know what to say. Hell, they only met this guy today. They let the radio play in the silence that hung between them, wondering if everyone was this involved with the goings-on of recent events.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
The teens grip on the steering wheel softened as his feet graciously shifted, his right hand quickly slamming the gearshift up it was almost automatic for him. Something he had trained into himself until it was autonomous. “Uh yeah, I guess. I don’t really know they don’t talk to me much.” Aloy’s response was an awkward flat landing after those intrusive thoughts of what happened the other night. “So uh yeah just try to blend in, and if someone gives you shit who isn’t an evo let me handle them, not saying you can’t protect yourself but I’d prefer a few detentions for me over you gettin’ yoinked but EHEA. Uhhh anyway, if you’ve got a phone there’s a cord there to play your music.” Aloy gestured to the radio and an accompanying cord, it was clear this was an aftermarket radio put in by hand, talented hands but hands nonetheless. The slow hum of the car crawled to the drive through box before Aloy simply stated. “Uh can I have two of everything on the menu and a vanilla milkshake? Uh what do you want Clyde” For most people this would be a bad joke with the punchline being haha I’m hungry, however Aloy’s tone was dead serious.C឵lyde Adams
"Pfft, blending in is easy street for a wallflower like me, but I have ways to protect myself if things get hairy." They scoff, pretending to feel insulted. He certainly knows manual. They think, eyeing how easily and automatically Aloy handles the car. They raise an eyebrow towards Aloy at the mention of listening to their music. I'd better keep it a little less.. me. They plug in the auxiliary cable, and scroll through the list of songs before settling on Black Honey by Thrice. When they get to the drive thru box, Clyde pauses the music for courtesy and blinks a couple of times. They're joking, right? "Just a double cheeseburger combo with the works. Diet cola, please." They relay to Aloy, still a little aghast at how much this guy is asking for.Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
Aloy repeated Clydes order nodding. As the thickly polluted voice came through the crappy little speaking confirming the order. Clyde could audibly hear from the window up ahead. “It’s him!” And the hustle and bustle of the fast food place stops to give a collective sigh for the slightest second before the mid-day rush of chaos returned the car crawling its way to the window as Aloy promptly paid in cash and got tbe good handing Clyde’s over to them before leaving. “Yeah, I know you do but I mean I dunno if they’ve got anti-evo units in Wales but here they can be pretty intense. Though there as a free emergency hospital for evo’s so I’ve heard-“ The sentence was swiftly interrupted by a burger being pushed into Aloy’s mouth as he happily and hungrily mauled it down with a satisfied smile across his face. Ever since he changed his metabolism had been insane, and increased tenfold with the ‘night volunteering’ he’d been doing. “So do you have anything around here you wanna see? I can eat and drive.”C឵lyde Adams
Why do they call chips 'fries'? they wonder as the order is finalized, the garbled speaker confirming the side and drink for the combo meal. When they recieve all the food, bag after bag after bag, Clyde is thankful their food was in its own bag. "Yeah, the National Protection Command have been head hunting people like me for ages. Kinda sad that a sanctuary like here has them, to be honest." They take a fair sized bite out of their burger, thoroughly chewing the food and savoring the taste as if it were their last meal. They never knew if it just might be their last. "I think just a general tour would be good for now. If I see anything interesting, I'll-" They pause for a moment, watching the insane spectacle of the food being voraciously devoured. "-let you know.."Aloysius ‘Aloy’ Fumi
The food seemingly disappeared into Aloys mouth, it was almost comical the way it suddenly disappeared once he gave a satisfied smile. His eyes looked to the side with a dumb expression as he was midway through jamming another burger into his mouth pausing at an awkward moment. Fuck them I can eat however much I want. With no shame aloy shoved the burger into his mouth. It was the shittest food he had ever eatenStoryteller
The duo spend a fair bit of time driving around the neighborhood, before they make their way to Clyde's home, bidding farewell.
Type
Record, Historical
Medium
Digital Recording, Text
Authoring Date
July 15, 2021
Authors
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