PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Sigga
N/A
quirk SYNAPTIC FLAY
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N/A
alias TBD
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Post by Sigrid Tendo on Jun 18, 2020 21:47:29 GMT
Sigga’s eyes flickered open, tired and bloodshot. She was still in her UA uniform. Her bed sheets, wrinkled and twisted, coiled around her body like some fluffy anaconda constricting the teenage fish. She barely had the energy to fight off the duvet. Eventually, after several minutes of staring at the ceiling she managed to sit herself up. Air and spittle hissed between her clenched teeth in a long-winded sigh.
Outside her dorm room window the sun was only just beginning to set. It was getting late in the day; that time when most students were heading back to their dorms, getting ready to tuck in for the night. Tomorrow was going to be another early morning of classes. Yet on this floor, in this room, the girl was just waking up from an impromptu nap. She hadn’t planned to sleep. She hadn’t planned to cry herself unconscious either.
Her amber gaze drifted towards her desk and the glass of water on it. It was normal for Sigga to drink a lot of water. Like, a whole lot. More than most people. This glass of water wasn’t going to be consumed by her though. Not anymore. Inside of it was a salmon colored smartphone, rendered inoperative by the liquid in which it now dwelled. That… had probably been a mistake.
The girl rubbed her eyes with her knuckles. Sigga didn’t remember the last time she had allowed herself to cry. It had been years, many years. She knew as well as any one of her foster siblings that crying only made things worse. It was unsightly, got you little sympathy, and resulted in you getting into bigger trouble. There were even those that made fun of others if they were seen crying. Sigga had been one of those people. Was one of those people. And yet, in a moment of utter despair, panic, and self-pity… she cried. Cried hysterically. Cried tightly into her pillow so no one else would hear. Because sometimes, sometimes a fish just had to cry.
Sigga smacked her gums groggily and then got out of bed. She felt dirty; sullied. Not from the crying. No, that actually felt pretty great after the fact. Even the self-pity was fine. What bothered her was how she allowed the week, heck, the year, to slowly break her down until she broke down herself. Also the sleeping in bed in her clothes. Mostly just that really. That felt gross.
She got to her feet, duvet and pillow slipping to the floor. Her thoughts still felt a little muddled. She’d sort those out in a minute. “Mnnmm...” With a groan Sigga unzipped her academy skirt and attempted to make her way to the tiny bathroom her private room afforded her. Unfortunately the girl’s left foot didn’t manage to quite clear the skirt as it dropped around her legs, sending her toppling over with a CRASH! Gravity’s embrace had been swift. “Hnnnng.” Sigga rubbed her temple where her head had lovingly banged into the doorframe. At least now she was fully awake.
After ten million years she made it the rest of the way to the tiny bathroom, flicking on the light, turning the sink’s knobs and then splashing cool water onto her face. This moping around was no good. She had to come up with a plan of action, if not for the parts of her life that were out of her hands then for the parts she still had some governance over.
She looked up at the reflection in the mirror. The girl staring back was clearly displeased with the fish. Sigga didn’t blame her. Once again she smacked her gums, her tongue threading the space between her teeth and lips. Her eyes continued the unwinnable staring contest as she grabbed a length of floss and got to work on her teeth. Slowly, methodically, just like the manner in which she flossed, her mind began reviewing the current state of affairs starting with the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Sigga
N/A
quirk SYNAPTIC FLAY
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N/A
alias TBD
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Post by Sigrid Tendo on Jun 18, 2020 21:52:19 GMT
[About two hours earlier]“Pfffffplplplft!” Water ejected from the fish’s mouth in a misty arc, rejecting her attempt to stifle the laughter. The culprit was clearly the smartphone she held in her hand. Or, rather, the recently messaged photograph from her grandfather, Heihachiro Tendō. Just above the photo was a string of text messages explaining that the farm’s most rebellious goat, Geronimo, had gotten themselves stuck inside the main building’s chimney. All the way at the top no less! It was a mystery as to how the animal managed the feat as there was no easy access from outside and the fireplace was blocked off by glass paneling. It had taken Heihachiro significant time and effort to remove said paneling and shimmy up the chimney from inside. Just as he was about to reach the goat, Geronimo had pushed off the old man’s head and bolted out the top of the chimney. Evidently the rambunctious ruminant had not been stuck after all, but simply desired an audience to their confounding climbing capabilities. Sigga had asked why her grandfather had not simply used his Quirk to pull the goat out of the chimney, to which Heihachiro had replied with a photo of himself; a photo of a wide-eyed, wizened, humanoid fish covered in soot and looking quite bewildered. Wasn’t technology great? The girl continued her mirthful hissing for a bit, typing out another reply before pocketing the salmon colored smartphone. That had been her semi-weekly correspondence with her grandfather. He was her legal guardian now, and took his role as such far, far more seriously than any of her previous legal guardians. It was the first time in a long time she had someone in her life that seemed to genuinely care about her, not counting some of her foster-siblings back in America. The feeling was mutual, but as a teenager Sigga still desired some degree of freedom and autonomy in her life and had successfully negotiated her way out of daily reports to the old man. Her next mandatory correspondence wouldn’t be until the following Monday. Sigga took another sip of water from her glass, this time successfully, as she made her way across the hall towards her private room. A wave of her student ID/keycard and the door unlocked, granting her access. This time she didn’t try walking through the door. It had taken a solid week before she got used to the door swinging outward into the hall. Like the door, there were a lot of things she learned to adapt to. Japan was a strange place, but one that was really growing on her. The door clicked closed behind the teen as she entered the room. Sigga kicked off her shoes, walked over to her desk and set the glass of water down, then flopped onto her bed with a sigh. One hand massaged her leg just below her elongated fin, reliving some tension around her ankle monitor. It was Friday so that meant only one more day of classes this week. Though back in America she absolutely loathed going to school, her outlook seemed to have done somewhat of a one-eighty after enrolling at UA. She didn’t even mind the fact she had classes for six days each week. It kept her occupied and, honestly, rather entertained. Well, except the days she had physical education. Fish were not made to run. Her thoughts began to trail off in some unimportant direction when the phone in her uniform’s pocket began to vibrate. Expecting another text from her grandfather, the fish withdrew it and glanced at the screen. It wasn’t a text she was getting but rather a phone call! How utterly bizarre. Sigga wasn’t sure she had used a phone in that manner more than once in her life. Her eyes flickered to the digits displayed in an attempt to identify the caller. The number wasn’t one she recognized though. Probably a wrong number or something, the girl thought. She didn’t bother picking up, instead electing to let the caller continue their failed attempt to get through. Sigga stared at the phone until its hum finally silenced. Before she could toss the phone aside, the device once again hummed to life. Sigga sat up, looking perplexed. This time, however, it wasn’t a call she was receiving. Apparently the previous caller had left her a voice mail. Odd. Well, maybe not that odd. Curious, she tapped the play button and listened. {Spoiler}“You bitch! You FUCKING bitch! I know where you are now! I know you’re in Japan! It’s your fault! It’s all your fault! I’m going to kill you! I know where you are and I’m going to kill you! I hate you! IhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIha-”
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Sigga
N/A
quirk SYNAPTIC FLAY
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alias TBD
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Post by Sigrid Tendo on Jun 18, 2020 21:57:05 GMT
It didn’t register, not at first. Then, as she recognized the voice Sigga’s face turned ash white. Half-way through the message she dropped her phone, jumping away from it as if the some eldritch terror had possessed the device. The girl looked absolutely horrified, her breathing becoming quicker by the second.
“Hhnnn!”
After a few moments of hesitation the panicked girl scooped up the phone again and dunked it into the glass of water still sitting on her desk. The screen and accompany voice winked out and the room fell silent. The only sounds were those coming from the now hyperventilating teenager, wide amber eyes staring at the submerged device.
She stood there, frozen, for what felt like hours. Then slowly, very slowly, her posture changed. Her feet shifted, no longer bracing for some unknown assault. But her breathing remained the same. It was all going to come crashing down again. It wasn’t her fault, but there was nothing she could do. It was all going to fall apart. Sigga moved away from the smartphone, the device now slowly spinning in the glass; moved all the way across the room onto her bed, pressing her back against the headboard. Her sinewy hands grabbed her pillow, crushing it against her chest as her knees tucked against it.
It wasn’t her fault. This time it wasn’t her fault. But the rules had been clear, even if she wasn’t the one that broke them. Soon they’d send her back to America. Back to that hellish juvenile detention center.
The hyperventilating got worse, exacerbated by a sudden outpour of tears and runaway thoughts. Sigga tugged at the duvet, pulling it in alongside the pillow as if the added mass would somehow help alleviate the full on fit of terror she was now experiencing. Several months ago her entire world had been flipped upside down. She along with her foster-siblings had been carted off either in handcuffs or in body bags. Japan was supposed to be her chance at something new, but the rules had been clear. No contact between her and her foster-siblings. Break that rule, or any of the others, and back to America she’d go.
Sigga loosened her grip on the pillow, still gasping for air. She took another glance towards her desk, hoping that maybe she had only imagined hearing the voice of her precious foster-sister.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Sigga
N/A
quirk SYNAPTIC FLAY
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N/A
alias TBD
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Post by Sigrid Tendo on Jun 18, 2020 22:00:16 GMT
[Present time]
A glob of saliva and food debris splattered into the sink. Sigga sloshed some water before spitting it out too. Then she grabbed her toothpaste and toothbrush. The nap followed by the routine action of flossing helped ground her thoughts and accompanying mental state. She could finally think rationally again. Things were bad. Maybe. Probably. But maybe.
Her mind managed to dismiss the pointless loop of fretting it was starting to head down again, instead electing to review a specific piece of the puzzle. The fact the voicemail had come from Mimi, her younger foster-sister, had entirely eclipsed the words in the message themselves. Sure they were concerning too, but it just went to show how Sigga’s thinking often defaulted to self-centrism and in such a pessimistic manner. The death threat itself had barely registered, with the bald girl focusing entirely on the fact that the message could very well constitute her “getting in contact” with one of her foster-siblings. Mimi certainly didn’t have it any easier than her, though. Sigga didn’t have to be in contact with the girl to know. But… what exactly was she blaming the fish for? George’s… passing? She almost flinched at the memory before dismissing it offhand. That obviously wasn’t her fault. But then what? Sigga squeezed out a glob of toothpaste much larger than necessary, and began to brush her teeth.
There was just no way her foster-sister would be able to get herself all the way to Japan anyway. And even if she did, if Sigga’s parole officer found out about the voice message, well… The girl brushed her teeth harder, as if the extra exertion would cause the plastic bristles to scrub away at that runaway thought. There was no point in dwelling on it. Besides, it seemed highly unlikely that her phone was tapped. How big had her ego gotten to think she was actually worth that kind of trouble?
That last musing brought a, somewhat nervous, subtle grin to the girl’s froth-filled mouth.
Spitting out some of the foam and then continuing to brush, the girl hit upon another curiosity. How had her foster-sister gotten her phone number? Sigga paused her routine and poked her head out of the tiny bathroom. Her gaze landed on the submerged smartphone across the room. As far as she was aware, UA High School, her grandfather, and her parole officer were the only ones with her number. How sad was that? The girl went back to the bathroom mirror. There was a bigger issue now. Her phone was probably dead. The allowance her grandfather provided wouldn’t cover a replacement and she was far too proud or, well, embarrassed to ask him for a replacement. She’d have to find one or… something.
“Ugghhh,” the girl groaned, spitting out more foam before rinsing out her mouth. She really shouldn’t have nuked her phone like that. That was dumb. Really dumb. But she hadn’t been thinking straight. It wasn’t the first time either. Her thoughts reflected on some of her other points of stress this week where things hadn’t gone quite ideally.
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PLAYED BY OOC NAME
PLAYED BY Sigga
N/A
quirk SYNAPTIC FLAY
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N/A
alias TBD
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Post by Sigrid Tendo on Jun 18, 2020 22:04:15 GMT
There was that encounter with UA’s principal on her first day. That entire conversation had been taxing on her, but that shouldn’t have been a surprise. It certainly hadn’t been the first time someone in a position of authority had cowed her into some form of obedience. Sigga had told herself she was only pretending to submit, but that was clearly just self-delusion. She had been afraid of the consequences then, just like now. The girl rinsed off her toothbrush before replacing it and the tube of toothpaste back in their holder. Then she picked up what looked something like a miniature, steel, divining rod; a tongue cleaner. Not having a nose had a seldom mentioned downside. It meant that rather than having the particulates in the air filtered by nose-hairs, her sticky saliva ended up collecting any invasive substance on her tongue. Gross! “Blehhhh,” went the girl, scraping her tongue with the tool. And then there was that time she bought some fries and that lewdly named pie for that Asa- Ashi- Asahi Arashi kid, or whatever. Funny thing was that he had reminded her so much of her foster-sister Mimi. Both his scars and some of his mannerisms. For all Sigga knew the boy, like Mimi, too had autism spectrum disorder. Dealing with her foster-sister had been… slightly more manageable. The fish was better equipped to deal with Mimi’s panic attacks, behavioral habits, and the like. The boy’s threat to spill blood however, that had really gotten to her. It was… strange to think about now. Asahi had only been a few inches taller than her and looked like a harmless, homeless, little street rat. And yet, with a few words quietly rasped out he practically had Sigga wet herself in fear. Quite ironic that only moments later the boy himself was in tears. That didn’t change the fact, the realization, of just how easily others could intimidated her. At least the latest noteworthy encounter had ended with no damage to her psyche like the others. Her morning cooking routine had her come away with only a single, undeletable, cringe-memory of her rambling at Hyousuke. Gawd, that was even more embarrassing in hindsight. The girl rinsed off her tongue cleaner, rolling her eyes far enough to trigger a minor migraine. But there had been a valuable lesson. Heck, there had been one across all three encounters. The girl was clearly, definitively, in deficit of any sort of self-confidence. She could pretend, yeah, but bluffing was no substitute for the real thing. The lengthy train of thought finally arrived at terminal station. Sigga slotted the tongue cleaner in its designated holder and flicked off the bathroom lights. There were a few options that she could think of to fix this dilemma. Three, in fact, that might help with that feeling of self-assurance required for the girl to stop doing the stupid. Walking back over to her desk she glared at the smartphone. Simply seeing the thing was bringing back the feelings of anxiety that had triggered her fit of terror. Sigga unplugged the thoughts, tugging the soaked electronic out of the glass and tossed it haphazardly. The device clattered onto her desk. Only time would tell how this would end. In the meantime she had a plan of action to apply and she’d do so right after class tomorr- wait, no, she’d get to it during her breaks between classes. At least the preliminary steps. No sense in delaying things. She’d probably know by the morning if she got to stay in the country or get carted off to the U.S. of A. It wouldn’t happen with her lying down, though. With that the fish laid down, flopped back onto her bed and letting out another sigh. Well, at least now she had figured things out, probably. Which was sort of encouraging. Sort of. [Exit Thread] |
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