Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was a clear summer day in one of the larger parks in Kings City. Unlike the majority of the cities parks this one had a section that was made up of woods. The trails that cut their way through the wilderness branched and forked often enough it was possible to get lost.

Takuma had been wandering around for only about 20 minutes so far. He had been studying how to identify a bird based on it's vocalizations. The first few parks he had tried only had a few birds around and most of them pigeons. This park looked promising but it was huge.

The sun was slightly past its peak. Even with the shade from the trees it was still pretty hot. Takuma decided this was as good a time as any for a break. He sat on an old fallen tree and re-wrapped the bandage on his arm. It was uncomfortable and he didn't want to wear the stupid thing. However he desperately didn't want to be in more trouble at home so going against his parent's insisting he keep his arm covered was not an option.

Being one with nature! YES! That was the only way Wil was going to clear her head. What with all the trouble of....partners and.....HER Wil needed a little cool down time. Poor little Wilhelmina's hair still smelled of hair dye and her hair still conveniently covered that horrible tattoo on the back of her neck....it was terrible! How could she fight evil when she was so distracted with hiding that stupid looking tattoo, dying her hair so it WASN'T against school regulations, fighting off Shin-lu's advances (Most of which she did her best to convince herself was purely teasing), and she was apparently pitiful on her own! How could such a proud woman as herself be driven down to such horrors? That she didn't know....but she was still hell bent determined to make that big breasted woman fix her powers....but...next time she couldn't tell Shin-lu, that puppy dog look she'd had last time...ahhh, damnit. Wil felt so weak to that.

She paused her little nature walk when she saw the two, her eyes narrowing momentarily before softening. He was a student at her school...the girl however...well looking her over she was...acceptable. No facial piercings, no tattoos, no weird hair colour....yes, she seemed to be an acceptable person, thus no reason for her to start snapping at her to be ashamed....she seemed to be...dancing anyway. A healthy activity Wil would admit, she was being active and spending time outside. Healthy! She could only assume the student from her school was doing the same.

Wil's eyes fell on the arm wrap, her pert little nose wrinkled in distaste. He seemed very.....not good at bandaging himself up. Of course she could say that, having to frequently do so for herself. Well....she did need to try to get herself in a better light around the school, thus she could offer her help.

"Need a hand with that?" she asked in a gentle tone, thoughtlessly pushing some of her blond hair back. She paused to look at the other girl, offering her a nod of greeting. Ahhh....she so wasn't good at that kind of thing! She was so awkward! Probably why Shin-lu constantly teased her about everything....she was totally a bully...

Takuma brightened when he heard the girls warm welcome. It was always nice seeing other people at the various parks around town. The way everyone talked at school made him feel like anything other than staying at home glued to some sort of contraption was unheard of. "Hey there."

Despite wanting to talk to the girl Takuma was still focused on finishing his task. He knew the bandage would casually start to unravel if he didn't at least try to do a good job. Upon hearing an offer of assistance he jerked slightly. He had no idea who it was but recognized casually seeing this additional girl in the halls at school. This didn't look good. All he needed was someone blabbing about the mark he was trying to keep hidden at school. "Ah, no... That's ok." Takuma quickly finishes the wrapping job. "It's taken care of now." He raises the bandaged arm to display that he is not lying and to also wave at them. It was peculiar though. Anyone that had been watching would have easily seen a large patch of crimson and black was under the bandage. However save for some trail dust and grime the bandages were clean. Whatever was going on it was clear that this kid was blatantly trying to hide it (and not very good at it).

Takuma froze when he heard the familiar voice of one of the school system's counselors. He had a history of being targeted and manipulated by bullies. In recent years the frequency had lessened since he went from being a pushover to an aggressive treacherous pushover. It didn't help that he was the kind of student that felt unchallenged by most of his schoolwork. It left him listless and bored in classes.

"Just resting. It's far too hot to be constantly active without a break, right?" He replied back trying to not let his new found unease be reflected in his voice.

Wow! Crysta found this quiet little second of woods growing more crowded. There must have been some sort of convergence of energy here. That made complete sense! That was why she had been drawn here in the first place, she just hadn't realized it until now. Crysta tilted her head as she examined the girl offering to bandage up the boy's arm. He wasn't holding it like it was hurt,his fingers seemed to be moving just fine. So..why was he wearing a bandage? Crysta's wondering did not manage to go any further then that, as another rather strange pair appeared. She turned, her blue eyes blinking curiously at Seyonne as she dragged Tobias along with her. Goodness! look at his face! Crysta's mouth dropped in open shock at the prominent scars that crisscrossed his face. Oh! That had to hurt! She didn't even take note of the pigtails until after the girl with him spoke up. What was he doing with an adult anyways? OH! She knew now! That had to be his mother! How cute! She could only imagine that a boy looking like him would only allow his mother to put his hair into such a girlish style.

Crysta piped up after Takuma, her eyes wrinkled upwards with the largeness of her bright smile. "I'm here to commune with the Spirits of the Wild." She explained with as much a cheerful note as a songbird after Takuma offered his answer. She turned then and set her gaze on the red headed boy. "Oh your so right though. It's terribly hot. I wish it would rain or something." She tilted her head upwards a bit, and gazed at the blue sky that peeked between the green leaves. There wasn't a single dark cloud as far as she could see, but perhaps the Spirits would decide to be kind today? Or...maybe they would decide to stay the way they were. With a shad shake of her head, Crysta dropped her backpack to the ground in order to save her shoulders the dragging weight. "Puah....is there a public pool...or a really big fountain around here?"

Awkward was cute on a girl so Takuma paid the awkwardness in Wil's voice no mind. He held up the binoculars that were hanging from his neck. "I was planning on going bird watching but haven't found any yet. Did you see any on your way here?"

"I'm as good as always, I guess." What Seyonne had implied about Wil had thrown him off guard. He glanced at Wil in an appraising manner. Takuma recalled seeing her in the halls at school but had no idea who she was. He normally didn't bother to follow or seek out gossip and rumors so he was also unaware of the reputation Wil was trying to recover. However the girl did look pretty fit. Fit enough to to probably cause some damage. It was best to try to be nice and not actively try to find out or else these problems may become real. "I don't think someone I've barely met could be much trouble. But how are you doing... and why are you walking Tobias around like a dog?" It was weird to see a member of the school's staff dragging around a student.

"Children children, play nice. Ms. Jones, perhaps you should get to know a person before you start in on them. Tobias has a very good reason for believing what he does. It is my job, however, to correct that mind frame of his. However, Tobias also knows that there is a time and a place for his less then pleasing opinions." She gave the young man at her side the evil eye, the expression wiping away the cheerful look that was previously on her face and replacing it with the displeased adult one.

"Tch." Tobias made an exasperated sound, "I apologize for not being able to overcome years of self taught survival skills in a matter of moments Catlin-San. I will endeavor to try harder at becoming a role model citizen in this fair city of ours. Anything to help my dear guardian keep the ones you answer to from putting me into an institution, or facility designed to help those like me." Tobias said, his voice flat and unamused. Seyonne couldn't help but hear a touch of self-loathing and anger hidden behind the indifferent tone.

"Give and take Tobias. Give and take. Like you, I am learning how to cope. You know I only have your best interests in mind." The brown haired woman sighed. "That wasn't the reason why we're here. Tobias does need to get out once in a while else he'll just hole himself up in his room and study his life away. But I guess that doesn't really answer your question does it? Mmm, well. I'm Tobias's legal guardian, even though he is a ward of the state. Tobias and I have come to an agreement. I don't push him to attend school functions or events that hold no interest to him, and in return, he lets me take him where ever I want twice a week, for at least four hours."

Tobias's expression slowly lost the indifferent look, and was replaced by a look of patient tolerance. "Catlin-san tries too hard at times. I've survived this long the way I have, I think I'll survive a little longer. You don't need to work so hard for me."

"See, that's why I work so hard. You don't believe that you're worth a persons time. Thus, Wa-la! We're here! Oh. We've hijacked the day. What were you all doing here before anyway. I know Takuma said he was going bird watching, but the rest of you?"

Wil rounded on Catlin this time. "Pot calling the kettle black. All you know about me is what students say, I've never been to your office," she hissed, rather displeased. "His mind frame doesn't need....correcting," she said a little awkwardly. "Just needs to know how to suppress unpleasant comments." She paused to glance at Tobias. Hm...she didn't like him, but she less liked this woman's idea of....reprogramming him. If it were up to her she'd put him in a gym. Most people were put in better moods after exercising...she herself was exactly the same, she was often oddly chipper after a good workout...but she did her best to hide that. People wouldn't listen to her if they weren't scared of her. She wasn't exactly the biggest or most physically threatening thus she made do with what she could.

Her eyes once again found Crysta, but she actually took the care to refrain from looking utterly revolted. Disgusting...she was far too....cheery. It unnerved her. "You'd be surprised what people will do when they have too much free time. And trust me, he's wrong about that....mating or herds thing. If you're worried what you'd fall under..." she paused to look her over. "I don't think you need to worry about falling into either of those categories." She turned sharply away from Tobias and Catlin, her ponytail flicking enough to show off the dark blue tattoo on her neck as she walked away, but the hair settled back in place quickly enough.

She paused thoughtfully. Maybe it would do him good if he learned to dance....she could tell Catlin to have that girl help him with that...if nothing else her perky attitude would lighten him at least a little. Haaah....but it wasn't really her problem was it? Pff....if she wasn't such a good student council girl she just wouldn't care....bah! Damn her!

A way out! Tobias almost jumped with joy when Takuma stood up and almost told everyone off for the bickering. His heart fluttered just a tiny bit with greatfulness as he edged around Seyonne to stand next to the red head. "Lets go somewhere else. Seyonne, I'm going to spend the rest of my time with Takuma-san if that's alright."

"Mmm, have fun Tobias, remember to give me a call when you're ready to go home if you don't end up walking home." Seyonne replied, taking her eyes off of Wil for a moment to smile happily at her charge. Then she turned back to Wil intent on clearing up a few things. "I'll have you know Ms. Jones that my comment to Takuma before was made in a teasing manner. It was not meant to rile you up nor imply that you are a troublemaker. Since it obviously fell short I apologize for my comment." Seyonne bowed before Wil, and held her bow for a few seconds longer then she would normally have, before straightening. "As for Tobias, I like him the way he is, but the ones I report to do not. They worry for him in the detached way that only government officials can. They expect to see him act in a certain manner and right now Tobias does not act like they want him to. I cannot falsify my records with him, not when he damns himself with his journals. If only Tobias would act like how they wanted, if only for a short time, then I wouldn't be needed to do the things that I have to. I don't want to see him taken from here and thrown back into the Foster Care system." She said the last part softly, her eyes sad.