X-Men: Shark Bones

"Hmm...Yes, that seems wise."

"Good. So now my magical fairy godmother powers come around" She said, in a way that revealed most of her experience with people under 18 was counselling the parents of children under ten years of age. Amanda opened the suit case and took out a few papers as well as some legal pad.

"My firm has actually just opened this program for teenagers" She said, getting out an application form. "It'd basically have you working as a kind of assistant to lawyers. The jobs are easy enough, you don't need to have graduated highschool to do most of them. It's designed specifically for teenagers who want to become lawyers, provide them with exposure to the field and getting to talk to actual professionals, etcetera. If you got into it— and it's very easy to get into it we only just opened the program two days ago— We'd be able to provide you with a lot of cool stuff."

"Plus, having a job would be good for the emancipation process"

He rolled his eyes at the first comment.

"Not to insult you, but that sounds rather suspicious."

"...Suspicious?" She asked, tilting her head. "How is it suspicious?"

"All I'm saying is that it seems oddly convenient and without a catch. And my situation has taught me not to trust such things."

"Well, you have to actually work, and it's grunt work. Most of the teenagers who get in apparently thought that they'd be lawyers immediately, but there's really no 'catch'" She said, somewhat confused as to how to deal with a situation where someone didn't immediately jump at a wonderful opportunity because it looked too good.

"You're actually very lucky that you called when you did. They just approved the second group today, meaning you're twice as likely to get in than you would have been if you'd called at some other time"

"Proof. Give me proof and I accept your offer. No use in sweetening the pot when I'm not convinced of the authenticity."

The woman squinted at him. "I just showed you the application" She turned to the cop, whose computer was still on the table. "Hand me that, I'll get on our website".

After a bit of typing and clicking, she showed him the page, with a large poster of the new program in its side, along with a list that said "Do I qualify? If you fulfill any one of these categories you will qualify for an application" and a list of over twenty things.

"Either real or thorough."

I think it would be in character for him to press further, but for the sake of progress he won't.

"But that will suffice."

He took the application form and started filling it out.

"So, while he's working on that, what are his charges?" Amanda asked the officer.

"Well, I've got the report here" He said, handing her a folder "But considering the circumstances, I'm fine with getting him a lowered fine that he can pay any time within the next six months or so."

"Ah, good to hear"

John getting all the way from Okotoks to Calgary, by foot, without having gone to get his motorcycle, in under eight hours, was very odd.

Nico sat there filling out the forms, listening to the conversation.

After Nico had finished filling out the forms, Amanda put them in her briefcase again.

"So, Firefly, where are you staying at?"

edited 11th Oct '12 12:18:12 PM by Faramir

"The Calgary drop-in centre. I'm homeless but that place helps." He then paused before somewhat awkwardly continuing. "Um...On that matter, where actually am I?"

"Okotoks" The cop said, knowing he'd arrived via teleportation.

"Thank you. How far away from Calgary is this?"

"Not too far, Calgary's just north of here." He said. "Something under an hour by car"

"Well then. What else is there to this matter?"

At the police station, Nico was explained what would be expected of him for the next few months. How, if he assaulted or stalked anyone— or committed any other crime really— his sentence would not be so lenient. How, since he didn't have much education he would have to work harder than most other students and likely bring his reading level up higher than it currently was to be able to keep up, and that they would try to help him with any troubles he might have in the process. Also, how he might be able to share an apartment with one of the younger, newer lawyers if they talked him into it.

Amanda gave him a ride to the drop-in centre, and told him he'd be starting on thursday.

The rest of John's day was relatively uneventful. Austin did the work he was told to do. Tari's night was filled with fun as she and her friend recounted what had happened to them over the past few months. A kind, friendly volunteer offered to give Todd a ride home after a few hours of helping out. There were not many notable things about the later night, though any of them could have seen some of their actions on TV if they had watched the news that night.

Family day arrived.

John woke up in his hotel room, his motorcycle still in Okotoks, Nico woke up in the drop-in centre, as did Dan Wilton. Todd woke up in his cheap, small apartment; Tari woke up at home, Austin woke up in his lavish, expensive apartment after a good night's work.

edited 15th Oct '12 12:24:39 PM by Faramir

“Oh, my gosh, Andrea, I am so sorry!” she said, rushing up to her friend. The dark-haired girl sat forlornly on the front step of Tari’s apartment complex, her chin in her hand. She jumped up as Tari approached.

“Tari, I thought you’d forgotten about me!” she said jokingly, “What kept you?”

“There was an accident in front of the shelter, and then some mutants attacked.”

“The shelter?” Andrea gasped, rising to give her friend a hug, “Why on earth would anyone do that? Was anyone hurt?”

“Thankfully, not many,” Tari replied, “One woman sent to the ER with what might have been a heart attack, but other than a few cuts and bruises, everyone from the shelter’s okay.”

Andrea stepped aside for Tari to enter the keycode to get into the building, and followed her up the steps to the fourth floor. “Why don’t we take the elevator?”

“I like to walk the stairs. Keeps me fit.”

“As if your condition doesn’t already keep you thin enough.”

“Andrea, my mutation kept me thin, not necessarily fit.” Even as she spoke, though, she tripped on the top step, stumbling against the wall for a moment. She ignored her friend’s concerned look, mumbling, “I drank my last Ca2-shake a few hours ago.”

Andrea butted in front of Tari at the door to Room 404, shaking her head as she slipped a thin bit of metal into the lock on the door. “Andrea!” Tari chided, “How many times do I have to tell you not to pick locks?”

“Tari, I’m not a mutant like you.” Andrea shrugged one shoulder as the door swung open, “I have to keep up somehow.”

“By picking locks? And if you wanted to pick a lock then why didn’t you let yourself into the building?”

“Security cameras, trained on the door,” Andrea grinned as she swept into the room, “I’m a safe-cracker and a lockpick, Tari, not a criminal.”

“Fine line to walk.”

“You know me, Tari. I wouldn’t ever do anything stupid.” Andrea plunked her backpack on the beat-up couch. “So, what are we up to tonight?”

“Well, I’m actually really tired…” Tari hedged, and thankfully, Andrea took the hint, unzipping her backpack and digging out a handful of dvds.

“No worries—I brought all the Sylvester Stallone movies I have. Up for a marathon?”

Tari grinned. “Always.” She shoved the pillows on the couch aside to make room for Andrea and then went to the kitchen to pop some popcorn and to mix a new calcium shake. She returned in a few minutes, already sipping at the huge glass of thick, gritty stuff and carrying an oversize bowl of steaming, fluffy popcorn. Andrea was grinning widely and hit the “play” button on the remote, and Death Race 2000 began to play.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Tari woke up on the couch the next morning next to a snoring Andrea—they’d fallen asleep somewhere between Rocky IV and Rocky V, probably close to 4 or 5 in the morning. The popcorn bowl—what few popcorn kernels still in in gone stiff from sitting out all night—sat tilted on its side, Andrea’s and resting inside. She groaned, stretching her stiffness out.

Andrea grinned, opening her eyes. “When did you pass out?” she asked, rubbing at her sleepy eyes. Tari grinned back, answering, “I remember starting Rocky IV, but then I vaguely remember you switching the discs, so it must have been sometime during Rocky V.”

“Haha, baby,” Andrea crowed, “I made it all the way to the credits of before I passed out.” Her eyes narrowed slyly. “Up for the marathon part 2 tonight?”

“Always! We still have the Rambo movies to watch,” Tari replied, sitting up, “But movies are a nighttime thing. What do you want to do today? I don’t have to be at school, I have no homework for once, and I don’t have to be at the shelter today either.”

Andrea thought for a moment, then suggested, “What if we just go out? Window shop a little, maybe buy some stuff.”

“Sure. We can stop by the coffee shop for some breakfast and go from there. I’ll grab my keys.”

If and/or when Tari and Andrea left the building, they would have discovered that there were next to no open shops in family day.

Parks, general public areas, Tim Horton's and some American locales were still open, however.

edited 16th Oct '12 8:47:26 PM by Faramir

John cursed the sun as its rays filtered in through the blinds, and hit him dead in the eye, as if the universe could sense his building discontent, the alarm clock on the bedside table took the opportunity to start waking him up.

Still in a foul mood from the previous day, John took a few seconds to try to contain himself before he lost that battle and reached over to slam his knife through the offending clock.

Satisfied with his solution, he tried to go back to sleep before deciding against it, and hopping out of bed. After a brief workout consisting of pushups and situps, he started the coffee machine and hopped into.the shower. He thought back to the day prior and all of the instances where things didn't go.as planned, those times when Murphy reared his head and started throwing wrenches.

Hopping out of the shower, he changed, poured a bit of vodka in his coffee, and began to plot.

.

John received a text from the company. "Cops watching you. Stay out of trouble"

Reading the text with no emotion whatsoever, John tossed his phone back on the bed and went back to his work. In an effort to find a lead, he turned on the TV and began to scan the news.

News were repeating a story about the previous day's events. The gang members' attack on the homeless shelter. A few minutes later, a different story appeared. A man— known and notable shark loan and repeated assailant, as well as suspected drug dealer who had evaded the police for weeks— had been found dead. The police were withholding information about the death, but the reporter said that they had implied it to be a notably anti-climactic mere accident. The man had, by some twist of fate, slipped on black ice in a residential area and cracked his skull.

After that, a different reporter informed the cameras that Naheed Nenshi was mentioned to be discussing some deal with the Rosenberg conglomerate's CEO, but details were being held back from the public.

edited 29th Oct '12 10:23:58 PM by Faramir

Turning his gaze from the television, John went back to the small notepad that lay between his crossed legs; currently covers in sweatpants.

The events from.earlier had vexed him, which could clearly be seen; the words "KILL UNKNOWN INTERLOPER " had been underlined and circled numerous times, and he was doing his best to come up.with a new plan of action.

Hopping out of bed and walking to the half empty coffee pot, he refilled his cup before picking up his phone and dailing a number written on a blank card.

"Jose, it's Rasputin ; I need to make some orders."

Waiting for the other side to pick up, he went back to scanning the TV.