bullworth-academy-of-superhumans

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

haters will see you mind control them and be like i do not hate you any more

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Drabble 1 - Blood-Brain Barrier

(A/N: If there’s been no questions for a while I’ll post a drabble. For now, they’re only gonna take place in the past compared to when the questions are being answered--sometimes during the game, sometimes not. It’ll also give me a chance to reveal more powers!)

Watching Edgar and Gary sitting together in the chem silo made Omar’s blood boil. He felt their blood as well, hot and slow, sloshing through their veins lazily. Edgar was too relaxed to be around a Bullworth student--his blood should’ve been pounding against Omar’s senses. He wanted the adrenaline, the thrill of a fight, but ever since the Bullworth kid shook Edgar’s hand, his faithful leader had been acting like nothing was wrong.

It was wrong--the damn kid thought he could just waltz into Chemo-O-Lot and hang out with the dropouts without difficulty. Omar wanted to teach him a lesson. He let his power flare up, tensing his muscles, thinking of what he could do--make tiny needles in the capillaries, clog the heart up, or even just make the blood stop cold.

Before he could act, a strange thought made him stop dead in his tracks. The Bullworth kid was obviously superpowered too and Omar didn’t know what he could do. His eyes drifted to Edgar, sitting with his back on the grating, too relaxed for the situation’s context. Perhaps, he thought, the Bullworth kid had done something supernatural to him.

“Edgar!” he called, revealing himself in concern for his leader. “Who’s the kid?”

Edgar looked up. His heart rate quickened, as did the student’s. “Oh, hey, Omar. This is Gary.”

Omar recognized the name. It was that kid who thought he’d never make it to Bullworth because he had no power. Then, out of the blue, some rich relative swept him away and got him tested. He must’ve had the gene; he wouldn’t be wearing that rage-inducing uniform otherwise.

Gary stood up, approaching Omar. “So, you’re the one that could explode my heart with your mind,” he said. “Charmed. I presume you’ve got a problem with me being here.”

Ugh. He even talked like a student. “You ‘presume’ right,” Omar snapped. “If it weren’t for Edgar, they’d have to filter you outta this crap.” Omar gestured to the swirling chemicals beneath their feet. Gary had the audacity to laugh.

“Well, I’m glad he’s here then. And I’m glad you’re here, Omar. You two might be the only people who hate that school more than I do.”

“Yeah? Then why you got that on?” Omar jabbed a pointer finger into Gary’s chest. Gary, unfazed, took Omar’s hand and guided it away.

“I didn’t want to get expelled just so I could convince you two to follow my revenge plan. In fact, without an insider, the plan would fail. Now, come on. Edgar and I are going through the details.”

Omar felt Gary’s energy in a way he hadn’t felt anyone else’s. It was like a gate between them had lifted, spilling their truths to each other, barring the label of ‘stranger’. Looking at Gary as he led Omar to Edgar’s side, he couldn’t even muster a quiet disdain against the student or his stupid uniform. There was a glaring disparity between the way he felt now and the way he had felt a few minutes earlier, and as he grew to the realization, his blood started to run cold.

The kid had mind powers, he realized, and that would always be okay. As long as he had Gary’s touch, things would never not be okay. A quiet voice inside of him protested the alien feelings, but it couldn’t for long.

“The core problem in my plan,” Gary continued, “comes in the form of Jimmy Hopkins. That’s where I need your help.”

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Gary, who is your favorite target for mind control?

“Mind control?” Gary scoffs. “Common mistake. I know the powers are similar, but I don’t control minds. It’s belief inducement. With mind control, you control every mental faculty, and it has to be continuous; you can’t do anything except focus on who you’re controlling. I just make people believe whatever I want. It wears off after a while.”

“On to the question. My power, in and of itself, feels great, but if I had to pick a specific target...well, Pete always felt pretty good.” Gary glances at Theo’s paperwork, skimming the material. “He was one of the only people who would willingly hang out with me. Sure, he was a jerk, but that only made manipulating him feel better.”

“Signature.”

“Of course.”

Gary pulls the papers toward him, taking the pen that Theo hands him. “And, well, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t nice to have someone who wasn’t afraid to touch me.” He looks over signs the release forms.

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

gary, what are you gonna do if you run into jimmy again?

“I’m hoping I won’t.” Gary laughs nervously, watching Theo stumble down the hall clutching a sheaf of papers. “Jimmy’s the only one I can’t get to. It’s like trying to run a current through a brick.”

Theo steps inside. Gary reaches his hand out and Theo takes it with an ungloved hand. “That is an important part of the plan, though. For now, I’ll stay away from the Academy as much as I can. I’m hoping that if I get enough people on the streets of Bullworth on my side, when and if the time does come, I won’t have to face Jimmy alone.”

“Thank you. Now get that done,” he murmurs to Theo, who pulls up the second office chair and settles in to fill out forms.

“Hopkins is the wrench in everything, but if I’ve learned anything from the past year, it’d be stupid to go after him now. Instead of making everyone hate Jimmy, I’ll just make them like me.”

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Who was the most difficult clique leader to beat?

“Edgar,” Jimmy says without missing a beat. “Definitely Edgar. Imagine this: not only am I in the middle of Blue Skies, where everyone hates me--in the middle of the silo in Chem-O-Lot, practically in a cage suspended above a pit of face-melting death--I’m fighting a guy made of the face-melting death stuff.”

“I’m just glad you came out okay,” Pete breathes. “I can see why they don’t let some of those guys in.”

“It’s money,” Jimmy grunts. “You let someone with Gary’s powers in, you don’t get to pull the ‘oh it’s too dangerous’ excuse. Besides, Edgar’s a nice guy when he’s not bashing your face in with a pipe. Someone with his powers would fit right in.”

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Jimmy, you said you have to catch Derby before your power is effective, what is his power?

Jimmy and Pete step out of the main gates. “A forcefield,” Jimmy explains. “If I get to him first, he can’t do anything, but if he manages to get the field up first, there’s not much I can do.”

“How did you actually get to him the first time?” Pete asks.

“Well, he hid in the forcefield and sent his friends after me,” Jimmy explains as they turn down the sidewalk. “Turns out he gets really mad when all his friends get their asses handed to them.”

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Hey gary? What is your version of an utopian world?

“Wow.” Gary’s eyes widen. “What a question to get while waiting for the drugs to wear off.”

“Well, in my utopia...let’s see. I bet you’re expecting me to go Orwellian or Huxleyan here, but my utopia...hm. People always hide things in this world. I want a world where no one can hide anything.”

“So, take away lying. Take away the asylum--everyone knows it's only here to hide the patients. Take away clique affiliations, take away class, take away money. You can trust anybody because you know what they want and how they feel. Sure, society as we know it would collapse, but honestly, what would we lose? Nothing I would miss.”

He leans back, listening to the steady hum of fluorescent lights and air conditioning.

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

What are you going to town for?

“Uh, food,” Pete says in an obvious tone. “There’s no way we’re staying at the school to eat in summer. We eat enough of that poison in the school year.”

The two stroll outside the boys’ dorm and down the stairs. The Academy is quiet, only a few souls wandering in the late summer heat.

“Mexican or the diner?” Jimmy asks. Pete shrugs.

“Whichever’s least busiest. We’ll see when we get there.”

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Hey Gary! Did you know Peanut died? How does that make you feel?

“Of course I know Peanut died.” Gary scoffs. “He was dead when I got to Bullworth. Not like he acts like it.” He smiles, closing his eyes.

“It was a bit harder to get into his brain, but it was worth it. Don’t be fooled--a rotting corpse can still fight as good as the rest of the Greasers. There’s a reason he’s one of their lieutenants. He sure was something in the riots.”

The memory seems to bring Gary some peace.

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

so where is gary gonna go? i dont think he can just Go Back To Bullworth. whats the plan here?

Gary’s nestled in a chair in the asylum’s main office. He fiddles with his patient gown impatiently.

“The plan,” he murmurs, “is still forming. Step one was getting control of this hellhole. I think I deserve at least some credit for that feat.”

His lidded eyes glance up, scanning the tiled hallway before him. Someone is slamming their hands against their cell door, sending booming echoes throughout Block A.

“There’s a few options. I have a relative who lives in the Vale. If I could just skip high school and inherit the family business, that’d be ideal. If that fails, well, I’ve been in this town forever. I can think of at least five different spots to hole up in while I thi–.”

The PA crackles to life, broadcasting one of its automated messages. “Remember,” a woman says in a gentle voice, “if you don’t think you have any psychological problems, you’re most likely in denial.”

Gary sighs, irritated. “Anyway. I’ve got Theo getting all the release paperwork and Gregory in town getting food and clothes for me. It’ll take them a good, long while to snap out of my powers. Once I’m gone, Happy Volts will be back to its usual business.”

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Jimmy and Pete, whose powers do you think are the most interesting?

“Definitely Jimmy’s!” Pete shouts before Jimmy can get a word in.

“Jeez,” Jimmy murmurs. “They don’t wanna hear anymore about mine, Pete.”

“Seriously, though, Jimmy’s power is every Bullworth teacher’s dream--”

“Pete.” Jimmy gives him a hard stare. “I don’t think that’s true,” he scolds.

Jimmy shifts the conversation quickly. “Immediately Chad’s comes to mind--he’s actually friends with his dog and he helps other people out with what their pets need. And Fatty, I mean, what would you do if you could eat anything? Anything but be thin.” He laughs.

“Ray’s is awesome,” Pete adds. “Bringing imagination to life...but he can’t really use it that well...”

“And Tom. Literally blending into the shadows.”

“How about Ted?”

“Ted?” Jimmy scoffs. “Walking through walls? It’s practically useless for anything but travel.”

“There’s just too many choices,” Pete admits. “Everyone here is so unique, and everybody’s powers are cool in their own ways.”

“Peanut’s power is pretty interesting. Too bad he couldn’t use it while he was alive!” Jimmy laughs. Pete shoves him, suppressing laughter himself.

“You’re horrible!”

The two spend some time calming down. “I don’t think we can come to an agreement here,” Pete reasons. “And it’s getting kinda late. We should go get something to eat, Jimmy.”

“Sure.”

Jimmy and Pete prepare to head to town.

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Jimmy and Pete, who do you guys think has the most dangerous power on campus(not counting Gary’s mind control)?

“Most dangerous?” Jimmy furrows his brow. “Not counting Gary...that’s a toughie.”

“And only on campus,” Pete adds. “So the townies are out.”

“Yeah, if it weren’t only on campus, I’d put Edgar and Omar up there,” Jimmy murmurs. “Let’s see...Damon’s up there. I don’t know the exact name of his power, but he tends to make people go crazy when he transforms.”

“But he can’t control it,” Pete argues. “It’s not the power itself that makes it dangerous, but how you use it. Like Melvin--making you vividly hallucinate would be dangerous if he used it for anything other than G&G.”

“Well, how about Johnny? He was pretty tough to fight.”

“I don’t know.” Pete sighs. “He uses his power well, but it’s just teleportation.”

“Most of the preps have defensive powers…” Jimmy muses. “The greasers...nah. Nerds, definitely not. Wait!” Jimmy grabs Pete’s sleeve, tugging it playfully. “We forgot about Russell!”

“Oh, yeah!” Pete picks his feet up and throws his fists over his head. “Russell smash the school!” he imitates.

“Definitely Russell,” Jimmy concludes. “Nobody can stop a twenty-foot tall mass of muscle and rage.”

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

so jimmy, did gary's power ever work on you, considering how yours works?

Jimmy grins. “Nope! His power works by touch, and mine does too, but mine overrides his. Ain’t that right, Pete?”

Pete nods. “Gary was actually pretty disturbed that his power wouldn’t work on you.”

“I remember him trying. He kept grabbing me to lead me places. I just thought he was a touchy-feely kind of guy.”

“Well, he kind of is.” Pete and Jimmy share a laugh.

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

jimmy, can you tell us a little about your power?

“Sure.” Ignoring Pete, who seems to be in deep thought, Jimmy relaxes.

“It’s power nullification. I don’t have a superpower myself, but I can stop other people’s if I touch them. It comes in handy with people whose powers get out of control, like Damon, or people who want a break from their powers, like Gord. Of course, there’s people like Derby and Davis, who I have to catch before I can actually use my powers. It’s less useful with them.”

“I actually found out about it when a pyrokinetic attacked me. I managed to figure out what was going on and hold him long enough for police to come, but I sure took a beating. I got tested after that and my parents leapt at the chance to get me in a boarding school.”

He glances down at Pete. “I can’t turn it off. It happens whether I want it to or not. I’m just thankful it’s given me an edge over everyone else here.”

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

Do you think the two of you would be friends if Gary had not done what he did?

At the mention of the name, both Pete and Jimmy look crestfallen. “Of course,” Pete responds. “Before Jimmy, Gary was my only friend. Sure, he was always a bit of a jerk, but we both got a bad lot in life, and we were both there for each other.”

“He was using his powers against you,” Jimmy murmurs. He glowers at the floor.

“Everybody uses their powers here.” Pete sits down on the couch, eyes lazily drifting toward the flashing TV.

Jimmy sits up a bit. “The way I see it, Gary was always gonna do that. It’s just who he is. Why would I wanna be friends with that?” He closes his eyes. “But…I used to like to imagine we could be friends. I mean, Gary would be doing a lot better if Bullworth had more than a quack therapist and an asylum to deal with loonies. If nobody cared that he had to take meds, then he wouldn’t care.”

Jimmy looks up at Pete. The smaller boy is stiff, trying to distract himself with whatever’s on. “Right, Petey?”

Pete is silent.

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

To Pete Kowalski, When did you discover your powers? Levitation seems pretty cool! (What a nifty blog!)

“Oh, thank you!” Smiling, Pete moves the darts to his hand and grabs them to set them down normally. “I can only do it with metal, but that’s okay! Apparently, the more specific someone’s telekinesis is, the more powerful it can get.”

“And with how I discovered my powers…” he glances over at Jimmy, who covers his mouth with his hands in an attempt to hold back laughter. “Well...you know those metal shelves with the wheels on them? The library my dad worked at used them to wheel around to reshelve books.”

“Well, one day, I was with my dad at work and no one would be quiet. I mean, it’s the one place you’re supposed to be quiet, and people were shouting across the room at each other and letting their kids run around screaming--and I had a massive headache that day--so I kind of tipped over all the metal shelves. With the books on them.”

Jimmy can’t hide it. At his chuckle, Pete shoots him a glare. “What?” Jimmy asks. “It’s way better than how I found out!”

“You’ve heard it before.” Pete sighs. “Anyway, it took a while before we actually figured out it was me.”

(Thank you! I had an idea that wouldn’t get out of my head til I started it :D)

[bullworth-academy-of-superhumans]

So, Dr. Crabblesnitch, how has the past year been? Was there any unrest in the cliques last year after the “incident” with Smith?

The Headmaster glances up from his paperwork, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

“To be quite honest, this has been one of my more stressful years. Unfortunately, due to that particular “incident”, we had to end the school year almost a month early. The press has been swarming over us; they certainly appreciate the opportunity to thrust our “unique” academy into a rotten light. I’ve been the middle man between the School Board and the contractors and, in addition, it has fallen unto me to maintain the shreds of our reputation.”

“As for the students and their individual groups, we were able to successfully de-escalate the situation. Peter Kowalski, the new Head Boy, had experience breaking out of Smith’s manipulations. He played an instrumental role in restoring peace. While the news that Smith had supernaturally coerced them was hard to swallow--trust me, it was hard to come to terms with even as I was hearing Smith confess--they were soon able to set their false beliefs aside and settle back into their normal routines.”

He seems to straighten up.

“I’m quite proud of how they’re handling it. There seems to be a mutual understanding that the violent behavior showcased during the riots is the result of Smith. While petty rivalries still stand, as they always will in the lives of our youth, the focus seems to be on recovery. I’ve tried to steer the staff in the same direction; students should not be punished for being the victims of another’s actions. I hoped I’ve answered adequately enough.”

Nodding, Crabblesnitch turns back to the plethora of paperwork on his desk.