Your name is Tavros Nitram. At the moment, you are almost 6 sweeps old (roughly 12 earth years) in the 7th grade. You currently attend South Jr. High in Boise, Idaho, and have an affinity for fantasy and sci-fi novels, as well as classic video games. After a bizarre glitch in the session, you and your friends all got transported to a new universe where most of your genetic makeup shifted to that of a human. So far, you seem to be the only one who still retains the memories of your old life. You're not exactly well received by your colleagues for your shy, feminine mannerisms and extremely small size, but you make the best of it with the help of your best friend, Gamzee Makara. Your trolltag is adiosToreador and you uHH, sPEAK IN A SORT OF, uHH, fALTERING MANNER, What will you do?
The 5 minute warning bell rang loudly throughout the hall, signalling the buildup to the beginning of lunch. it was a half day today, some weird teacher conference was going on later. The other students were already congregating towards the door before the teacher could even finish talking. Before long, the end of class siren sounded off.
I slowly walk out of my World History class after everyone else rushes to join their friends in the lunchroom or in their cars. I've never really been comfortable in crowds, I always feel like there are too many ways I could get picked on, shoved, trampled, or any other methods of pain. I usually just pretend to shuffle some papers in my messenger bag or finish writing down something on the board to avoid suspicion.
This day in particular was one I knew my head should remain down. Yesterday, I made the mistake of fighting back against the school bully, and my old teammate, Karkat Vantas, during his daily degradation. After a slew of beautifully syntaxed screaming in the hall outside my locker, I decided to try my hand at returning fire, telling him "yOU KNOW,,, iF YOU WERE AS NICE, tO EVERYONE AS YOU aRE TO ME,,, yOU,,, eR,,, wOULDNT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, wHAT THEY SAY ABOUT YOU,,, bEHIND YOUR BACK,,," It was weak, I knew, but it did the trick. The halls were filled with laughter and "Burn!"s, as Karkat's face turned a bright shade of crimson, reassuring my theories about his true blood colour.
However, he didn't seem to share everyone else's amusement. Once his buddies started shoving him around and laughing along, he couldn't take it anymore. Before I could finish silently congratulating myself, I was thrust painfully against the lockers next to me. The halls silenced instantly, instead wearing faces of pure shock. The red metal pressed coldly against my back, my thin black collared shirt barely protecting me. Karkat's face pressed even closer, his deep, deep red eyes slowly burning a hole in my already shattered confidence.
"LISTEN, FUCKNUT, AND LISTEN GOOD. NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE, TALKS BACK TO ME. THE ONLY POSSIBLE OBSTACLE HALTING THE DESIRES I HAVE OF RIPPING A NEW ANUS INTO THE SIDE OF YOUR FUCKING HEAD IS HOW MUCH OF A MESS ILL HAVE TO CLEAN UP AFTERWARDS"
Tears started welling up in my eyes, obscuring my vision. I could feel myself mouth the words "Please stop" but no sound came out. I looked in vein for help, but every other person had the same expression of fear and intrigue. Karkat's fingers dug into my collarbone, and I could feel myself getting lifted up even further above him.
Before he could do anything else, however, the final bell rang, and his friends started pestering him to leave. After one more hard shove, he finally dropped me to the ground and walked away. Slowly, one by one, everyone else followed suit, but not before giving me a pitiful look of silent apology. I knew they were true, but not true enough to offer any condolences.
Experience has taught me that the day or two after a failed bullying attempt was the worst. It always meant the person had a day or two to figure out just how to exact revenge...which meant I would be wearing my long-sleeve jackets the next day to cover the bruises...or worse.
Luckily, the lazily groggy voice of assistance passed through my ears.
"HeY, tAvBrO! hOw'S iT hAnGiNg?"
I turn quickly and was soon met with the gaze of my best friend, Gamzee. On our old world, he was the person I came to whenever anything was bothering me or if I was just in a slam mood. He was so kind, I couldn't ever imagine him being anything other than as friendly as possible, let alone hurting anybody. That's why I was so drawn to being his friend, how accepting he was of all my many shortcomings. Not so long before the glitch, he admitted to feeling a little red towards me, but that I didn't need to reciprocate if I wasn't comfortable. I wanted to so badly, just to make him happy, but I kept feeling the pang of guilt like I was supposed to wait and give my feelings towards...someone else I haven't met yet.
Before we came here, he kept his style simple...well...simple for him, anyways: His sign on his untucked shirt, spotted pajamas, and mountains of silly face paint. Now, he seems to have embraced the culture of earth high schools, while also making it part of his own style: Same unkempt hair, same spotted pants, but his sign has been replaced with a crude drawing of some cartoon frog playing the guitar, his slippers have been replaced with high profile sneakers, and his face paint now only covers his cheeks with white and gray swirls, revealing the beautifully sculpted face underneath. His skin now shifted towards a slightly brown tint, perfectly complimenting the monochrome swirls. His eyes show signs of his continued addiction to calming and relaxing drugs, supplementing sopor for a new plant substance. I never judged, and it was kinda funny watching him drift around in his own world.
"oH,,, gAMZEE! hEY! nOT MUCH, jUST GOT DONE, wITH CLASS,,, yOU?"
"SaMe, BrO. HeAdIn' OfF tO mAkE sOmE mIrAcLeS oN mY lUnCh TrAy AnD cUrB tHeSe HuNgErS."
"oH,,, wELL YAY! iM SO SO GLAD! i MIGHT SPEND, sOME TIME IN,,, tHE LIBRARY,"
"NiIiIcE..." He drawls, his expression quickly changing to one of concern, "wAiT...wHy? Is EvErYtHiNg AlRiGhT? wHaT hApPeNeD? aRe YoU oKaY?"
"oH NO,,, nO NO NO NO, i, iM FINE!" I wave off, "jUST,,, sHAKEN, iS ALL,,,"
"WeLl...AlRiGhT bRo...If YoU nEeD aNyThInG, gIvE mE a HoNk, AlRiGhT?"
"oF COURSE,,, i WILL,,, bUT NOW YOU NEED TO, gET TO LUNCH,"
"YeAh...AnD yOu Go GeT lOsT iN a WoRlD oF mIrAcLeS."
I wave to him slightly before pushing up my glasses and walking in the direction of the library. There is nobody else wandering the halls at this time, luckily. My locker is only a few dozen feet from the front doors of the massive school library. This is where I spent the majority of my time, hiding in the corner with a pile of fantasy stories, listening to podcasts on my supposedly ancient mp3, absentmindedly nibbling on chocolate chip and sweets. It wasn't perfect (my hiding place was right next to the copy machine which is running constantly) but it was as close to perfect as my surroundings would allow. No one could bother me, no one could approach me...it was my personal heaven.
Of course, with heaven naturally comes hell.
I wasn't the most popular kid in the school, far from it. I was the person people used to get their aggression out, I was the person the insecure could abuse to feel good about themselves...and it was slowly driving me insane. I allowed them to...I couldn't fight back. It wasn't just strength, it was personal motivation. I couldn't ever allow myself to hurt another creature. It wasn't my way. If it went too far and went towards me fearing for my life, I could probably defend myself enough...probably.
The copier juts to life next to me making me jump out of my thoughts. After composing myself, I take a quick glance around at all the other patrons. There aren't many to speak of, but the usual identities are present. John and Jade are partnering up on a new experiment, pouring over a mountain of scientific encyclopedias. Some speculate the two are long abandoned twins who happened to meet up coincidentally. Others go so far as to say they're passionately dating and use school as a method of cover for their encounters. But I know the truth. I take a moment to feel slightly proud of myself.
Then there's the "Cuddle Corner", where all the matesprits go to...relieve their tension, per se. I've always been jealous. I've never really had a proper relationship before, unless you count the platonic experimentation Gam and I attempted. They always look so happy to be in each other's presence, so enthralled with the intricacies of love. Sigh...maybe one day...
Other than Feferi helping out the Librarian manage holds or filing paperwork, I don't recognize any of my old friends anywhere. I know at least half of them managed to land in the same timeline all attending the same school, myself included, but that leaves everyone else to wander about the new world, figuring everything out. Do any of them have the same knowledge that I do? Or am I somehow unique to that glitch?
As I contemplate, the loud end of lunch siren blares throughout the campus. I sigh, close my book, and proceed to place everything behind the shelves for me to pick up again the week prior (I cant have people stealing my stories now, could I?) and quickly speed off towards 5th period English.
The final siren calls the end of the day. It had been a rocky one, for sure, but not at all the worst. At the library, I found a new audiobook to listen to, and I can't WAIT to listen tonight. Maybe I'll break into my personal funds and get some popcorn or a few extra snacks to enjoy while I listen. No matter what, though, I'm so pleased to finally be out of that gogforsaken building for an entire week long break.
Lugging my clarinet case with me, I walk around to the opposite side where the buses park. My bus, number 337, was still apparently at the station, so we'd be stuck for another half hour or so. I set my backpack down near the stop and pull out my novel I've been reading for months. Ive technically already finished it, but it was quite possibly the greatest book in the world, so I've been rereading it over and over again.
As i read the next part, where one of the characters grows into a super-powered 50 foot tall anime character and destroys almost all of the enemy vehicles surrounding them, i absentmindedly reach into my backpack and pull out my fruity mints. I pop one into my mouth and keep reading eagerly.
The character stumbles a bit.
Unbeknownst to me, a presence starts heading my way.
He tells the rest of the group someone's in his room.
It charges quickly, eyes flaring and muscles flexed.
His avatar freezes, helicopters darting towards him.
Arm raises.
A scream, and the aircrafts crash into him.
And everything goes black.
