Fight of the Food

[Garion DeLuse]

Garion's grin seemed wider than his face as he sprung up to follow Kennedy, suddenly ravenous. He slipped on some gravy and had to steady himself to avoid impaling himself on asparagus.

Nevertheless, he was bounding after Kennedy, still typical Garion.

"So.. are you in any way related to Morgan Cavan?"

[ken]

When Garion slipped, Kennedy had extended a hand and turned slightly, ready to catch the kid if he needed it. Thankfully Garion more or less caught himself, and the two could keep moving toward the kitchen.

"Morgan?" Kennedy repeated, pushing open the door to the kitchen. He held it long enough for Garion to get in, then followed, leaving it to swing shut. "Yeah, she's my kid sister. Take it you've met her?"

Kennedy headed for a fridge, opening it and rummaging for a bit. Soon he came out with two cans. Tossing one to Garion, Kennedy then popped his own open.

"I was here for a few months before Morgan transferred," he offered. "Her Gift was harder to spot, I guess. But you probably know about that, if you've met her. We're not exactly deceptive people."

he took a drink, then smiled, "Probably comes from Pickneyville raising."

[Garion DeLuse]

Garion just smiled and nodded, cracking open the almost pure caffeine drink and taking a swig of it.

"Met her? She practically saved my life. You would think that her gift would be easier to spot. After all, unless you hung around superheros all your life."

Garion held off on asking him how his gift worked, like he had so many times before. No one really knew the answer to that one.

[ken]

"Not really," Kennedy admitted. "Morgan was physically active long before her Gift really became evident. It's hard to say exactly when these things manifest themselves... but we think that Morgan was actually doing incredible feats before her Gift manifested. I think it probably upsets her that it all comes so easy now."

Kennedy shrugged, taking another pull from the energy drink. He could already feel it working, energizing his body. Doubtless he'd crash in about an hour, but he'd be back in the Cavan dorms by then.

"Think about it though. You're Gift would be a lot easier to see then Morgan's, or example. She just gets to do strange stuff every once in a while, and you could almost write hers off. How do you explain floating stuff?" Kennedy cocked a brow, smiling. "Could be worse though. Pyros burst into flame from time to time. Trust me, I've done it . Not fun standing around naked."

Another sip, and let's pretend Kennedy never said that.

[Garion DeLuse]

The mental concentration that it took to get that quite disturbing image out of his mind actually vaulted a potato into the wall.

"It makes you wonder how people cover that up. Joey catches on fire while reading a poem in English class, or plants start to grow whenever Susie's around..."

The energy drink ripped through Garion's body. Weren't they bad for little kids? Ah well, Garion was sure nothing bad was going to happen.

Although the Cavanite siblings seem to be bad luck for him.

[ken]

"Well, there's all sorts of theories," offered Kennedy. He could fell lecture mode descending upon him, and decided to momentarily give into the urge.

"Some people think that Gifted threaten the people who see them. You're not going to report that your neighbor starts fires with her mind, you know? Not unless you want to be the next one," Kennedy shifted. "That's not one I really like, myself. Other claim the government's trying to cover it all up, that's bull. The Academy does more then the government in that manner, and even they let a lot slide."

Kennedy sighed, shaking his head. "No, the fact is that people don't want to think this is real. They don't want to think that their neighbor can rupture their mind. Or that Sally down the street can't die. Worse: that people can read minds. No, people would rather pretend everything's all hunkey dorey. So they miss the wonder right in front of them."

Kennedy chuckling, looking over at Garion. "So, I guess the short way of summing all that up is this: people are stupid, Garion. Really stupid."

[Garion DeLuse]

Garion nodded at Kennedy, "I would rather your theory myself. Ignorance is a wonderful alternative to fear. The mind is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Data does not compute, so you delete it."

Garion set down the half full energy drink. "Here's a thought... If a superhero doesn't have an enemy, what would they use their power for? With no need to use their powers for good, would they use it for evil? Or let it become public public and become a weapon for the government? Or if they don't want to become a weapon, be viewed as a threat? No one would be able to live a normal life keeping a secret like that..."

Perhaps Garion was overthinking things a bit, but it really troubled him. What would someone with a destructive power, like Radiation Emission, do after the Academy?

[ken]

"Well, my dad's a dentist," offered Kennedy. He shrugged. "He's got one of those healing type Gifts. Or the Cellular whatchamacallit one. I never really understood how that worked."

He shrugged again. Really, Kennedy didn't want to know how most Gifts worked. When you could do any of them, you really didn't want to stop and think about the consequences. What all those Gifts were doing to your body as you used them for your benefit.

"The Academy forbids us from going public," added Kennedy. "And they enforce it pretty strictly. That's one of the major jobs of the Agents. You know, going around and cleaning up supernatural spills. Making sure people don't notice giant, fire-breathing dragons. Stuff like that."

Kennedy chuckled dryly, taking one last pull from his can before setting the empty to the side. "Though there are still rogue Gifted, those that use their power for their own selfish reasons. I've met them firsthand. It's not pretty."

[Garion DeLuse]

"Hmm... I wonder if we will ever go public. After all, we can do great things. Of course, there will be wackos labeling us as dangerous and unstable. But can you really blame them."

Garion just nodded again, suddenly feeling quite uncomfortable. He shifted in his seat a few times, then took another sip of his energy drink.

Bad Idea.

The energy drink that was consumed was far beyond what your normal Gatorade or even Red Bull is. No, this could definitely be dangerous to little kids.

And contrary to what Garin wanted to believe, he was just a little kid.

"...Urp.... BLEEEAHAGAGAHA!" Vomit rocketed to the floor and sparyed the kitchen tile. Garion looked down in shock and embarrassment, not able to fully comprehend what he had done.

[ken]

"I don't know if we'll ever go public, it's been years, after all," offered Kennedy shrugging. "I suppose we'll find out one way or the other."

Kennedy then drifted into his own thoughts, wondering just what it would be like if they did eventually go public. That would certainly make things easier for Rae. Not to mention more profitable. Morgan would be in trouble though, and Kennedy wasn't certain how well his dad would do. Dr. Cavan didn't exactly advertise his magical healing powers, after all.

Since Kennedy had been wrapped in his thoughts, he hadn't even considered Garion for a while. Or the possible adverse effects an energy drink could have on Garion's small body.

So the sound caught him by surprise. He had dealt with a large family though, so Kennedy was able to dodge most of the vomit. Still, he too stared at it for a while, as if he wondered how exactly it had gotten there.

"Well, guess the drink was a little too much for you," joked Kennedy. Chuckling, he stepped around the vomit, heading for a supply closet. "Come on, we'd better get that cleaned up."

[Garion DeLuse]

Garion just nodded and tried to pretend like nine year olds threw up in front of Kennedy in the kitchen of Cafeteria's all the time. He grabbed a mop and started to soak up the bile.

"Do you enjoy working here? Or do you ever miss being normal... getting a normal job." Garion knew firsthand that gifts could be curses at times. He often felt that he was robbed of his childhood because of his natural and supernatural abilities. Maybe that wasn't true, but he still believed it. He knew that in the long run it would be better... but still...

[ken]

"Normal?" Kennedy cocked an eyebrow. "Clearly you haven't gotten the Cavan family history. I just about knew from the start that things weren't going to be normal. I have a dad that heals people by touching them, Garion. That's not exactly run of the mill. Besides, apparently he met my mom by saving her on an Academy sanction mission, or something."

Kennedy shrugged. The details of his parents' meeting had been glossed over several times. Mostly because Eoin clearly didn't want to talk about it, so it had to be a painful memory. Probably linked to Morgan's namesake, if Kennedy had to guess.

"But honestly? I'm happy with my job. I don't know what I'd be doing if I wasn't Gifted though. Probably firefighter or something," Kennedy shrugged, then grinned. "Wouldn't be getting married to a model though. Then again, my brother's a construction worker, and he got a Miss America, so maybe it's in the Cavan genes."

Kennedy helped Garion clean the floor, making use of the telekinetic Gift as he did so.

"Besides, it's never boring here, which is a plus."

[Garion DeLuse]

"Yes, but..." Garion let it go. "No, never boring... never that."

"I suppose I couldn't imagine life without my abilities. It's just like moving your left leg. Of course you can do it, it's so easy! But no one really stops and thinks about what they are doing."

"I might work here if the building is still standing... I would like to become a Tutor or Agent. Although teaching kids is hard enough. Teaching kids with superpowers..."

[ken]

"Is a pain in the neck," finished Kennedy, grimacing. He'd long since learned that there were tricks to teaching the Gifted children, and even those often didn't render excellent results. There were times when Kennedy was just glad to see them working.

"Agents have it rough too, though," he pointed out. "Unless you're a defender, you're usually out in the world. Which might be interesting, since you're seeing everything there is to see. But it's gotta be taxing too. I've seen some Agents that just look wasted."

And none of the tutors really bore that same expression. Sometimes during a crunch week, they'll feel particularly stretched. But not nearly to the level of exhaustion many of the Agents experience.

"Tough job, either way."

[Garion DeLuse]

Garion sighed. "And Superman makes it look so easy. "

He started to clean out his mop, as the mess was finally cleaned up. The mop was rinsed, but the smell of vomit still lingered.

"Good job with the whole 'Get Out' act. Quite effective."